THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411040698
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: THEATER REVIEW
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
No one can accuse Shawn Smith of offering the same old thing. If he can find something daringly different, the Elizabeth City State University drama director will offer it to a sometimes confused public.
The public on opening night didn't always seem to know how to react to the University Players' current offering, ``The First Breeze of Summer.''
The initial production of the 1994-95 season centers around Grandmother Grimmar, the matriarch of the Edwards clan. What an interesting group they are - mixing religion with sin.
In other words, it's true to life.
So is the relationship between Grimmar, her children and grandchildren. She is the one they turn to for wisdom, love, advice and guidance.
What they don't know, but the audience knows - thanks to multitudinous flashbacks - is that in her younger days, Grimmar was, as they use to say, ``somewhat loose.''
We get a look at her three romantic liaisons, including one that is interracial, each of which managed to produce its own child. Grimmar mellows with age of course, but her sins catch up with her and send the family reeling.
The moral of the story is crystal clear: Behave now - you'll not have to worry later.
Smith need not worry about his performers. Without exception, they all have a handle on their character - although some give their characters more life.
Dorothy Wills as Grimmar is letter perfect. Every line, every movement, every look is totally convincing.
Speaking of perfect portrayals, Chester Dunton is going out in grand style. The ECSU stage vet is leaving the area, after years of exquisite portrayals.
As Milton Edwards, Grimmar's son, Dunton shows great strength: In one scene involving a fight with one of his sons, Thomas, you can feel the fire. Christopher Johnson, as Thomas, must be feeling the bruises.
Dunton doesn't fool around. Nor does Brandon E. Scott as the hellfire preacher, The Reverend Mosley. It's a small, meaty role and he makes the most of it, making Jimmy Swaggart sound like a pussycat.
There is not enough space to single out any other performers in any detail in the cast of 16.
They laugh, cry, shout, love, hate; one emotion after another, and the audience does not always seem to know which is which. But everyone will agree that ``The First Breeze of Summer'' will move you, will leave you thinking and wondering. It is good, tight theater.
Be warned though that some of the language and situations are not designed for children. As noted, many adults weren't quite sure how to take it. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
FRANK ROBERTS
Dorothy O. Wills, as Grandmother Grimmar, commands center stage in
``The Breeze of Summer.'' Among the cast are: from left, Christopher
Johnson, Elroy Cofield, Nikita Sutton and Chester Dunton.
by CNB