THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605080116
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
The play works, thanks to the skills of its director Karen Turner Ward.
The Generic Theater is coming to Chesapeake this weekend with its lauded production of Shay Youngblood's poetic drama, ``Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery.''
The play is special and the actors and the use of spirited blues and gospel music will give it humanity, warmth and energy but it's the talents of Young that will make this production come alive.
Just ask Elisabeth ``Liz'' Burgess, president of the Generic Theater's board of directors.
``She's directed for us before,'' Burgess said. ``She did `The Colored Museum' and was a drama judge for our summer festival. We're delighted she accepted this production. She's a perfect match for this particular play, she's such a talented director.''
Ward is a local and regional actor who also chairs the Hampton University Department of Fine and Performing Arts.
She brings quite a bit of experience and expertise to her directorial job. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in drama and African-American studies from the University of Virginia, a master of fine arts degree in acting from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Ph.D in rhetorical communication from Regent University.
She has served on the Virginia Commission for the Arts and has acted in or directed for many local and regional theater groups, participating in everything from serious social drama and musicals to light-hearted comedy.
Ward said this particular play made quite an impression on her after she read the script.
``The subject matter is very close to me,'' Ward said. ``I came from a small town like the heroine in the play so I can relate to the experience and the feelings. You can recognize the characters in the play from your own past. And even though it happens to an African-American woman, the truths are universal, the messages can apply to most audience members. The play brings out very real emotions, feelings and truths.''
But Ward soon saw the drama's challenges.
``But I thought, `How will I pull this off?' '' she said. ``This is episodic. The play is, in a sense, about her memory, about how she was raised, about the major influences in her life. In that sense it's a difficult thing to do. I have to make sure the audience is with me.''
Ward said most of the production is told in flashback. She said its episodic structure is similar to popular television dramas with each scene loosely tied together.
The play concerns a 25-year-old African-American woman who, following the death of her mother, was raised by a tight-knit community of strong, self-reliant women. Besides these loose vignettes, Ward said the drama is enhanced by the production's copious use of music as directed by Gerard Johnson.
``The story is delicately woven with unforgettable songs ranging from African ritualistic drums, heat-searing blues to euphoric gospel,'' she said. ``There's a lot of music involved. The play's author calls for music to underscore the drama. She left it up to us what kinds of songs to use. We included bluesy numbers to riveting gospel.''
The music will be performed live, Ward said. Most of it will be a cappella and performed in the same style as perfected by such groups as Sweet Honey In the Rock, Take 6 and After 7.
Ward said this drama should have universal appeal.
``It appeals to almost everybody from youngest to oldest, no matter what race,'' she said. ``A lot of people at the end of the play say that's the way it's supposed to be. We seem to have gotten away from helping raise our children. This drama does believe in the African proverb that it takes an entire village to raise a child. It's such a positive message. If everybody thinks about its central themes when they leave the theater, I think it will be a success.''
Ward said she hopes the production is successful in Chesapeake and looks forward to bringing it to the Oscar Smith High School theater this weekend.
``I think it's great we're coming to Chesapeake,'' Ward said. ``The people in Chesapeake are in for a real treat. This show is so appropriate for Mothers Day. I hope Chesapeake residents everywhere bring their moms for this production.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Karen Turner Ward is bringing the Generic Theater play to
Chesapeake.
by CNB