Theatrical Review: Sold

Theatrical Review: Sold
Directed by: Stephanie French
Based on the Novel: Day of Tears by Julius Lester
Adapted to the Stage by: Stephanie Daventry French and Ahleea Zama
Theatrical Review by: Paul Adam Smeltz

The East Stroudsburg University (ESU) Department of Theatre presented their production of “Sold” which was adapted by Stephanie French and Ahleea Zama and directed by Stephanie Daventry French. The production is based upon the novel “Day of Tears” written by Julius Lester which is about slavery in the United States which existed as a legal institution prior to the 1860s. Like the novel, the play is presented through first-person points of view from the perspectives of both the slaves and the slave holders and is centered around the lives who were effected by that has become known as “The Weeping Time.”

The weeping time was an event which took place at a race track in Savannah, GA on March 2nd and 3rd in 1857. The two day event was the largest sale of human beings on record in the United Sates with hundreds of Africans being sold into slavery. During the sale, rain touched the area and many interpreted this weather conditions to mean the heavens were crying at the spectacle of men, women, and children being sold off like cattle to the land owners. Several of the Africans died while standing at the race track waiting to be sold while the remainder were bought to continue their lives of slaves until those surviving the conditions associated with slavery were freed when the Civil War concluded.

The ESU production of “Sold” wasted no time to indicate how the issue of slavery remains a prevalent one for the audience of 2011. During the announcements known as “housekeeping” in which theatre goers are reminded to turn off their cellular and electronic devices while refraining to take pictures during the presentation, the audience was reminded slave trafficking still exists in many areas of the world and is especially prevalent in the sex trade industry. The cast’s reminder concluded with an equally powerful appeal for the audience to do whatever they can to stop the abduction of women and children by those who profit from these practices.

The play itself remained a powerful production throughout as it explored the lives and circumstances around the characters (mostly historical ones) that were depicted. The play begins at the home of Pierce Butler (as portrayed by Douglas Saint James) who was the 2nd largest Slave Holder in Savannah, GA. Hi wife, Fanny Kemble Butler (as portrayed by Shannon Leigh Christmann) who is an abolitionist and objects to how the slaves on her husband’s plantation are being treated. The marriage is seen in its deterioration as Fanny leaves the unacceptable situation to return to England and is forced to leave her two daughters, Sarah (as portrayed by Stephanie Clare) and Frances (as portrayed by Cassandra Daily), in their father’s care as he and the law of the 1800s saw children the property of their father.

As they play progresses, so do the lives of Pierce Butler and his children. Frances adopts a mentality which allows her to accept slavery and all its implications while Sarah re-examines the culture in which human bondage and the suffering it inflicts is an acceptable means of maintaining a high standard of living. The play also examines the lives and varied perspectives of the slaves which range from acceptance to the point their lives are seen as preferable to the challenging life they would lead once freed to those who either pray for freedom or death to come so their misery that accompany a life filled with a lack of dignity and self determination could end. The play also explored the lives of other slave owners which enhanced a revelation of a thread connecting all the characters of the play which is woven to the realization that no one is free in an oppressed society.

While it’s obvious those who are slaves have little or no say in their fate, the need of their “Masters” to suppress their property enslaves them as well. The “Masters” are unable to recognize their slaves as human beings deserving of the dignity and respect entitled to each person. The “Masters” must meet societal expectations and look upon their “Niggers” as sub human in order to justify their place in society. The “Masters” are not free to refrain from perpetrating the abuse many slaves experienced during those times nor are they free to comment upon the morality of such practices to their colleagues, friends, or family out of fear of losing their acceptance.

Although the play centered around the historical period of the 1800s, this reviewer began to reflect upon the references the cast made to slavery in the modern era. I began contemplating how many in our world are suffering the effects of slavery whether it’s imposed by others or self inflected. These effects pertain to relationships and situations many find themselves in throughout the course of their lives. Those who are abused in relationships are kept in fear of seeking a change in their condition and are immobilized by those who enslave them. It is often easy for those who wish to share their wisdom to say such life conditions are best avoided but the reality is they often can’t as emotional attachments come into play and these are not easily controlled.

There are also those who are enslaved by their own thoughts and prejudices. Many of us become attached to certain ideas or concepts and merely entertaining a contradictory one creates a great deal of anxiety. This is often due to our perception that to change our thoughts would deny us of our steadfast certainties and we lose our ability to control our part of the world. We then become prone to second guessing ourselves to the point where we begin to mistrust our every decision. Some may seek out individuals or groups who are willing to enslave them while others may isolate themselves in order to maintain a certain illusionary control over their environment. In either case, they become both the enslaved and the enslaver as, like several of the slaves portrayed throughout the production, they become accustomed to their enslavement as it allows them to live life without having to live it.

However, freedom does come to those who are tired of accepting the unacceptable whether it originates from others or from within. Those who accept a new life without oppression may find it to be a better one. Those who don’t may choose to remain in the comfort being enslaved provides them. Still, knowing one can be free if they’re willing to accept its blessings and challenges does empowers one whether they choose to embrace it or not. In other words, it’s the ability to choose and not the choice itself that makes one free; even if that choice is slavery.

As mentioned earlier, the production of “Sold” was a powerful one. It was well cast by exceptional actors who brought to life the characters they portrayed (both historic and fictional) in a very believable way. One often felt the soul of the person embodied the actor making it difficult to distinguish one from the other. This added significantly to the quality of the production along with the set design and direction the play was given by its director Stephanie Daventry French.

Besides those mentioned earlier in this review, members of this production’s cast included Tyler W. Adams as Will, Bob, and Samson, Esther Joseph as Emma, Shawanda Davis-Farber as Mattie and Aunt Hager, Andrew M. Confair as Auctioneer Weems, Brad Reigner as Mr. Denman and Jeremiah Henry, Michelle Jones as Mrs. Denman (who also served the production as its Dialect Coach), Tyler Whitman as Mr. Ellington, Michael Lloret as Mr. Powell (who also served the production as its Music Arranger and Choral Director), Brandon Luis Cabrera as Jeffery and Charles, Melquis Reyes as Anson, Mary Dennis as Mary and Winnie, Gabryal Rabinowitz as Joe, Joseph Dougherty as the Auctioneer’s Assistant, Tinesha Davis as Dorcas, and Marie Steeger as Mistress Henfield. The cast also included Karen Guilliams who added depth to the production by lending her voice in song and served the production as a member of its Running Crew. There were also understudies mentioned in the program and they were Aaqilah Lewis and Shannon Long

The East Stroudsburg University (ESU) Department of Theatre production of “Sold” was directed by Stephanie Daventry French who also adapted the novel by Julius Lester and was assisted by Ahleea Zama who also adapted the novel by Julius Lester and served the production as an understudy. The production was Stage Managed by Zenobia Colah who was assisted by Elyse Burnett and Katie Dembesky. Yoshinori Tanokura designed the set as assisted by Gillian Reinartz. The Lighting was designed by Robert McIntyre as assisted by Kelsey Pulzone who also served as a member of the production’s Carpentry Crew along with Eric Lang. Michael Thomas was the production’s Technical Director, Devon Sparks was the Master Electrician, Molly Bunkard was the Wardrobe Mistress, and Michelle Tuite was the Property Mistress as assisted by Briana Tyler and Mari Pollock. The Poster and Program Cover Design for the production was done by Michael Marshall.

This production of “Sold” will continue its run at The East Stroudsburg University (ESU) in East Stroudsburg, PA at The University’s Fine and Performing Arts Center in it’s Smith-McFarland Theatre until October 23rd and is recommended for those who wish to not only learn more about the plight of slaves in the United States during the 1800s but to reflect upon the insidiousness of its nature which persists to the modern day and may do so as long a humans inhabit the earth and themselves. The only drawback to this production is it only lasts until the 23rd so it is also recommended to be expedient in making arrangements to attend a performance. The next production to be presented at The University’s Fine and Performing Arts Center will be “A Christmas Carol” December 1st through 4th. Please contact The East Stroudsburg University (ESU) Theatre Department at 570-422-3483 for more information about future productions and to reserve your ticket.

Photograph provided by The East Stroudsburg University of PA.