Director Chuck Smith with two exceptional young actors, Jason Delane as Eugene and Jacqueline Williams as Alma introduced "Yellow Man," an incredible drama by playwright Dael Orlandersmith at Next Theatre.
"Yellow Man" is the story of a high yellow youth named Eugene and a young Black lady named Alma who live in the same town and fall in love. It is obvious that the production is set below the Mason/Dixon Line where during their era, it was terrible socially for two individuals with such color differences to exist comfortably. In this drama, Eugene is half-white and Alma is a young girl who is not considered a pleasant young lady. To Eugene, Alma is a very wonderful girl and he is seriously interested in her regardless of what anybody says or thinks.
Orlandersmith's play takes in ideas from the social situation that prevailed in the South.
Yellow people were not liked by the average Negro in the city, however it was not for the reason society has designated. They were not appreciated because of moral differences because many were children of passion that came from unmarried white and Black couples and were called bastards. Throughout the South there were many that lived in Black neighborhoods that were cared for by African Americans.
Alma was also attracted to Eugene who loved her; however, she refrained from an intimate relationship with him. The two actors expressed their experiences as well as those of others in the community. They played several roles, mothers, fathers, friends and others.
Endeavoring to express so many different characters is indeed very difficult, however Director Smith accomplished the essence of this play without reservations.
Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.
Photograph (Jason Delane and Jacqueline Williams)
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