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| L - R Nic Few and Darrell Phillip - photos by Jermaine Alexander |
By Joe Straw
There are a couple of things one can be sure of when venturing downtown to see a new project at The Robey Theatre Company. One is, the acting will be way above par, and the second is that the new works of art being presented will send you home questioning art as it relates to the social fabric of this country.
The Robey Theatre Company in association with The Los Angeles Theatre Center presents a world premiere – Man’s Favor Devil’s Plan written by Kwik Jones, directed by C. Julian White, and produced by Ben Guillory though November 20, 2022.
Man’s Favor Devil’s Plan was selected to be produced as part of the Robey 2022 Paul Robeson Theatre Festival readings and while one witnessed a play about “workers’ rights, women’s rights, mistreatment of the underrepresented…” one saw a play about oppression.
The play lies under the grim canopy of the great depression. Black Americans, last on the employment list, fled their place or origin, for one reason or another, to find employment on the west coast in 1938 Los Angeles, California. Currently some now find themselves working in Mr. Avery’s Hotel.
Ladie Nolan (Matt Jennings) stands mightily outside on the loading dock of the hotel. Spiffy in his bellhop uniform he dances. His steps are sure and carefree as he glides from one side of the dock to the other while making sure no steps are missed and the timing is smooth.
Smooth until Mr. Avery (Darrell Phillip) steps out onto the dock, slightly disheveled, drenching from sweat, and taking a handkerchief to wipe the perspiration from his brow. There are no subtle allusions about this man. He is the owner of the hotel, and he feels a need to keep workers in line and under his control.
Ladie is about as agreeable as one can be but once the degrading words are spewed forth from Mr. Avery mouth it’s hard for him not to turn the other cheek.
Without coming right out and saying it Mr. Avery is looking for DD Nolan (Ashlee Olivia Jones). He makes mention of the fact that she is late. Ladie says she is at the doctor’s office this morning, and this concerns Mr. Avery.
Set off in a primal moment Mr. Avery, who upon seeing Ladie’s watch, pulls a gun on him and tells him that it’s his. (One believes it’s less about the watch and more about DD.) He places the gun back into his back waistband, gives the watch back to Ladie, and then offers him a sandwich with mustard.
Mr. Avery says he wants to see DD as soon as she gets in not knowing that DD is hiding nearby before he makes his way upstairs.
Nevertheless, to the order of business, Mr. Avery has Ladie watch for the truck bringing the entertainment that will save his hotel. He confides to Ladie his father never believed that he could run this place and tonight will be the make-or-break deal.
And when DD comes out of hiding, she isn’t in a hurry to go see Mr. Avery. DD says that she’s sick but preface that with, “I ain’t that type of sick.” To liven up the mood Ladie enlists DD to dance with him and they have a grand dance.
Butchie (Nic Few) steps out of the backdoor, getting a breath of fresh air, away from washing dishes and the kitchen. It’s a job, slightly beneath his dignity, as he was once a boxer and doesn’t mind reliving those stories to anyone within earshot. But he wants something better. A bellhop job would be nice, and Ladie is willing to teach him how to be nice to the customers and how to act.
L -R Ashlee Olivia Jones, Christina Childress, and Crystal Nix
Mabel Lynn (Christina Childress) steps out to fold laundry and tells DD say she has a bone to pick with Butchie. She is in a little financial trouble and needs some help.
Kwik Jones has written a marvelous play where one just sits back and enjoy the dialogue. The characters are richly developed and three dimensional, each having a backstory that is projected through the dialogue. The play is brutally honest and oftentimes funny when black folks try to negotiate their lives beyond the lens of a white man’s world. Man’s Favor Devil’s Plan is a tragedy that sends a strong message to the onlooker and a play that stays with you weeks after you have seen it.
Time plays an important part in this piece. The physical is the pocket watch and the significant role it plays. There is a time element in the waiting. In their lives, the characters represent the beginning, middle, and end of their time. These are the not so obvious elements that make this production soar under C. Julian White’s direction. His interpretation adds to the fascination of what the theatre, and in particular The Robey Theatre, is all about.
One generally doesn’t like coming on opening night realizing there are a few items that need the finishing details. And the small items that need attention are the relationships. Ladie and DD’s relationship is confusing mostly because DD is offstage when they were talking about her and then DD appears, and we are not sure who this woman is until someone mentions they are siblings. Also, other actors appear on stage without a finished purpose in mind. Mabel Lynn moves out into the dock and folds towels without a purpose as to why she is there. She is there for Butchie, but she doesn’t appear to seek his whereabouts.
Christina Childress, as Mabel Lynn has very expressive eyes. She wants one thing but plays it close to her heart, possibly because of other relationships she has had. But she must feel that her current love interest is the one great last love that she will ever need. That her heart skips a beat when she spies him across the deck. Maybe that is another interpretation, or another choice that was tried and discarded. But one thinks in her case love wins out before it’s too late.
Nic Few plays Butchie and is tremendous in the role. Butchie won’t put up with much especially from his white counterpart. Being a former boxer, he knows what pain is about. He’s not afraid of any man. He is fearless and generous but makes one big mistake in the end. Does he get the watch back in the end? One is not quite sure.
Matt Jennings plays Ladie Nolan a young man who will put up with the white man’s world. He is slightly naïve but plays along and gets along in order to keep his job. He moves through life thinking he’s a wanted man, so it is in his best interest to keep a low profile. Possibly one thing missing in the character is someone who will protect his sister at all costs. Which means keeping her away from their boss. Jennings last seen in One Way Ticket to Oregon grows in every performance.
Darrell Phillip and Ashlee Olivia Jones
Ashlee Olivia Jones is DD Nolan and is exceptional in the role. DD has a couple of secrets. The first one is obvious when she admits “I ain’t that type of sick”. And while everyone (in the audience) knows what she is talking about the characters don’t respond or are indifferent. She also withholds a secret from her brother but once that information has been given the brother does not respond in a meaningful way and doesn’t propel the character into action or reaction. DD is in a predicament and the one thing that must weigh heavily throughout is, what is she going to do about it? Jones is a wonderful performer and there is always more to add to the character.
Crystal Nix as Ms. Pearl is always there to provide words of wisdom. She is the focal point to help the others along in their daily struggle. But Ms. Pearl hangs on to her secrets as well. And that secret has given her the advantage to keep the rooms on the top floor that will give her better tips. She loses it all in the end, but she manages to keep the dignity she has left. It is a terrific performance.
Darrell Phillips plays the ruthless, socially repugnant Mr. Avery. In retrospect Mr. Avery is a beaten man and will take out his frustration on his employees who he considers chattel. He’d like to think of himself as a nice man, but his misguided generosity doesn’t sway anyone to come to his side. And to level his playing field, he carries a gun to oppress those who step out of line. The ending is horrific as he takes out his cigarette, pastes his hair onto his head, and slightly disturbed waits. And, after all of that, Phillips is wonderful in the role.
Nathan Gary Stuffel’s stage design is impressive and is a work of art on The Robey stage. It’s the first thing one sees when entering the theatre and admires a great place for the actor to do their magic.
Run! Run! Run to see this new work of art. And take a sociologist with you. I did, and she got a little excited when she was moved enough to shout expletives toward the stage. Human interaction makes for an interesting night.
Other crew members who were also responsible for making the night a wonderful event are as follows:
JC Cadena – Associate Producer
C. Julian White – who directed was also responsible for the Sound Design
Jermaine Alexander – Video Editor/Production State Manager
Carlos Vasquez – Assistant Stage Manager
Jason Mimms – Graphic Artist
Benedict Conrad – Lighting Designer
Naila Aladdin Sanders – Assistant Costume Designer
Phillip Sokoloff – Publicist
Dylan Southard – Dramaturg
Jan Bouldin Blunt – Choreographer
Caesar Bijou – Carpenter
Marva Smith Robey Development
Princess Guillory – Food & Wine Coordinator
Akosua Hobert – Friends of Robey Volunteer Coordinator
Tickets: https://ci.ovationtix.com/28125/production/1140735