Thursday, March 07, 2013

My Life in the Theater: POSTCARDS





This was one terrific play. Written by William Costanza, it premiered here in Detroit at the Detroit Repertory Theater but I hope it comes to your neck of the woods.

Alvin Moseby is a photographer. He lived in the south during the 1930s, in Shiloh, Tennessee to be exact. When times are tough we often do things for money we wish we hadn't. He was paid by Deputy Sheriff Reggie Kilmore to take photographs of racist deeds which were made into postcards.
Later Alvin leaves his wife, flees Shiloh and moves to New York city. There he finds his artistic calling taking pictures of legendary jazz musicians in sessions. He finds Hattie McLendon who becomes the love of his life. But, the infamous box of postcards follows his every step and haunts his every move. The photographs relentlessly attack his soul.

This is the third play in the last month we have seen about racism. One at the turn of the last century, one in the 1950, and the third across the 1970s and today. The face of racism changes but it never disappears. Sad.

3 comments:

George said...

I would definitely go see POSTCARDS if it shows up here.

Anonymous said...

Patti - Oh, this really does sound like a well-done play! And sadly, you're right. Racism hasn't gone away...

John Weagly said...

2149Thanks for posting this, Patti.

I've sent an e-mail trying to contact the playwright to see if we can read the script for a potential production at Raven.