SARASOTA – The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe kicks off a brand new season with the colorful musical, Raisin’, based on the renowned 1959 play, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry. The play’s popularity took a boost when the 1961 film starring Sidney Poitier was released.
The musical adaptation, written by playwrights Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg, stays true to the original story of a 1950s black Chicago family of five that desire a better life then what their current circumstances allow.
After the death of the patriarch and Mama Lena’s husband, the family eagerly awaits Mama’s $10,000 insurance check that will surely change the course of their lives. Unfortunately, everyone has a different idea on how the money should be spent and the events proceeding may cause irreparable rifts between this close-knit family.
Mama Lena, played by the charming Jannie Jones, faces tremendous pressure on how to spend her newfound fortune. Will she succumb to the pressures of her beloved but belligerent son, Walter, or buy her dream home?
Walter Lee, played by a talented Brian L. Boyd, is the biggest dreamer of them all. He wishes to use the insurance money to open a liquor store with his friends. Mama Lena, a devout Christian, is not having it. The conflict between the pair is littered with raw emotions. You feel for both parties because their end goal is the same but the process of getting there couldn’t be any different.
Walter’s relationship with his wife, Ruth, is also a contentious one. Ruth, played by Joanna Ford, loves her husband but sides with Mama Lena’s desire to purchase a home. The classically trained singer’s voice is so gorgeous and permeates the entire theatre. Ford’s voice will draw you in and keep you lingering until her very last note.
Mama Lena also deals with her other rogue child, her daughter Beneatha, played by Kiara Hines. Beneatha is the antithesis of her mother in every way and knowing this only empowers her. She is a free-thinking college student that doesn’t believe in god, much to her mother’s chagrin.
Beneatha falls in love with her African classmate, Joseph Asagai, played by WBTT newcomer William Tipton. Joseph has a way of softening up Beneatha’s tough exterior and she melts right in his arms.
Samuel Waite, who plays Walter and Ruth’s young son, Travis, is always a pleasure to watch. This past summer he amazed crowds with his lead in WBTT’s Rockin’ Down Fairytale Lane. The already seasoned 10-year-old has a bright career ahead.
Judd Woldin and Robert Brittan wrote the music and lyrics, respectively. The show’s soundtrack features many standout singers. Along with Ford, Hines also shines on her leads as well as Jones.
The band, lead by musical director Brennan Stylez, plays beautifully and really compliments the singers’ voices although sometimes the band can slightly overpower the vocals during certain songs.
Jim Weaver choreographs and directs this musical production. Most recently, Weaver directed last season’s phenomenal show In the Heights.
Speaking of heights, the WBTT is off to great season and is soaring high with Raisin'. If this is only the beginning, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store.
Raisin’ runs until November 11. The WBTT is located at 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota. For tickets, please visit www.westcoastblacktheatre.org.
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