Shocks and Surprises in Woolly's Antebellum
Woolly Mammoth's production of Antebellum has a quality that can be all too rare in theater: the ability to surprise you.
Perhaps it shouldn't be so shocking — after all, this is a play that has to convincingly tie together two seemingly disparate story lines: a tale of a Southern gentlewoman psyched for the premiere of Gone With The Wind who's entertaining a black woman who's stopped in for some water, and that of a Nazi commander whose relationship with a black prisoner looks like it's one between master and sex slave. Turns out the two tales have far more in common than one might imagine, and come together satisfyingly, movingly, and above all, horrifyingly.
It's not the only question the brilliant and compelling work raises, and the only shock it has in store. The work constantly keeps you guessing, whether you're wondering how the increasingly sci-fi leaning story is going to be worked out logically, how seemingly one-dimensional characters are going to be fleshed out. The work satisfies on every account, and amidst all the heavy stuff injects a healthy dose of humor, particularly in the instant, joshing familiarity that is struck between Sarah (Jenna Sokolowski) and the stranger who seems awfully interested in the idea of becoming her maid (Jessica Frances Dukes).
The work's greatest strength is its script, a world premiere from Robert O'Hara which has some thoughtful comparisons to make between the oppression of Jews and blacks and the different ways racial dynamics played out on different continents. The play does take a late turn for the melodramatic, and Sokolowski's anguished monologue, while powerfully delivered, redevelops her character a stretch beyond credibility.
But Sokolowski and Frances Dukes have a chemistry to envy, and Carlton Byrd displays a cool elegance, even throughout his imprisonment. The real revelation, however, is Andrew Price's complicated commandant, never quite a monster, an alternately terrifying and pitiable presence. In a night filled with surprises, it's the depth of Price's character and performance that's the most welcome.
Antebellum runs through April 26 at Woolly Mammoth. Tickets are available online.