Photos from Florence (above) and Mojo (lower) – credit – S. Haley
One-act plays use unique formats to tell the story in a more condensed manner than the usual multi-act play does. On stage now through November 13 at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is Florence and Mojo. Each name represents a one-act play written by American playwright Alice Childress.
Alice Childress is recognized as the only 20th century African-American woman to have written, produced, and published plays for four decades. She was at the height of her writing career in the 1950s and 60s when Civil Rights were becoming more of a focus. She earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her novel, A Short Walk. Florence and Mojo both look at life through the lens of African American characters. There are difficult moments to comprehend but Childress is known for the optimism she has for her characters. Her writing brings out an intensity with a balance looking towards the future.
Although each play stands on its own, there are significant elements that they have in common: The both have well developed story lines. The staging and sets enhance those stories. Creatives for these plays include Set Designer Harlan D. Penn, Lighting Designer Brian Sidney Bembridge, and Sound Designer Steven Beckel. Patrice N. Trower is Costume Designer and the Stage Manager is Jackie Mariani.
Each play has strong characters. With direction from Lindsay Smiling, the stories that unfold focus on the importance that each character brings to their role in the show. In the Director’s Notes, Smiling writes, “Childress’ characters are rich, complex, passionate humans in situations that test their identities.” Here is a brief look at how that unfolds.
The First Play of the Production is Florence
The production opens in a train station waiting room in 1949 in a small town in the south. Here, the set is vital because evidence of segregation laws is very much seen as the signs designate one side for Whites Only and the other for Colored. Mama (April Armstrong) and her daughter Marge (Billie Wyatt) enter and sit on the Colored side. Mama is taking the train to see Florence who does not live in the south in order to help her out. We learn that Florence is down on her luck but still wants a career in the arts. Lack of jobs appears to be a problem.
Marge appears hesitant to leave her mother but eventually does. A porter (Eric Steven Mills) comes in and as he mops the floors he and Mama speak. The divide between the two parts of the room is very much in evidence in conversation. The reality of what it brings really comes out when Mrs. Carter, a white woman enters on the White Only side. She and Mama have conversation across the divide as Mrs. Carter relates that she has only been in town two days and she’s bored. But as they exchange information, she suddenly says she knows someone who can help Florence find work. Unfortunately, it is not work in the arts. It is doing cleaning.
The result of what is said influences Mama’s travel plans as the play moves towards its conclusion.
This one act play allows viewers to go back in time and listen to a conversation where supposedly a well meaning white person makes futile attempts at what they think will help a black person. The after effects of the conversation are quietly but importantly portrayed through the very fine acting of both the women but most especially Mama. We never meet Florence in the play and one is left to wonder what happened to her.
The Second Play of the Production is Mojo
A brightly colored set takes center stage for the play which goes on after Intermission. It is the fall of 1969 in Teddy’s apartment. One can assume he is a rather “hip” gentleman who enjoys life. His opening phone call is to his white girlfriend who he playfully calls his “sweet vanilla ice cream cone.” Teddy (Chris White) obviously enjoys being a good looking man which we watch as he admires himself in a mirror. His plans to meet up with Bernice, the vanilla ice cream cone, are interrupted when Irene (Darlene Hope) uses her key to come in.
Their conversation begins in a light hearted manner. He refers to her as his buddy girl and he her buddy boy. We learn later that they are divorced but still a part of each other’s lives. When they met years before, she was a rest room attendant who had to listen to others talk about the race problems happening at the time. We learn how she moved on to better things. But she needs him right now as she is ill and getting ready to check into the hospital. There are several things that are disclosed in their conversation that had been hidden. The revelation of feelings brings something new to them. One cannot help but feel that there will be more they will share in the future.
Mojo brings out strong characters with the fine acting by Ms. Hope and Mr. White. The underlying affects of racism are subtly disclosed through their exchanges. Their lives have not been conventional. However, the basic human need for a connection is very evident.
Tickets – Florence and Mojo
The Theatre offers a range of prices for tickets including various cost-saving opportunities:
* $15 student rush tickets available 30 minutes prior to each performance with a valid student ID
* A limited number of Pay What You Can tickets for every performance on a first-come, first-serve basis.
* $30 Under 30 ticket option offers $30 tickets for patrons aged 30 and under, with valid ID.
* Other discounts are available including a 10% discount for Bank of America customers and employees, members of television’s THIRTEEN, AAA members, and others.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 973-408-5600 or visit ShakespeareNJ.org.
Special Performances for Florence and Mojo
* The Symposium Series performances offer a post-show discussion with the cast and artistic staff. This is available for the same price as a regular ticket. For Florence and Mojo, these performances will be held on Saturday, November 5 at 2:00 PM, and Saturday, November 12 at 2:00 PM.
* Know-the-Show pre-show talks are offered free of cost with the purchase of a performance ticket. Prior to the Thursday, November 3rd performance, at 7:00 PM, there will be a pre-show discussion. The performance that night follows at 8:00 PM.
* Closed-Caption performances andAudio-Described performances. The captioned performance will be on Thursday, November 3rd at 8:00 PM. The Audio-Described performance will be on Thursday, November 10th at 8:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Box Office.
