4A
Thursday, February 26, 2004
entertainment!
THE BATTALI01HE
Bryan's Stage Center brings to life
racially-conscious work “Raisin in the Sun”
itl
2001-2003 Best of the Brazos Valley Winner!
By Christina Teichman
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When Carolyn Myrick descended the
steps of the Stage Center in Bryan, she
hoped to get feedback from audience mem
bers, as she did at every one of her perform
ances of “Raisin in the Sun.” But this time,
she was in for a surprise.
“An audience member came up to me and
started crying, telling me about how she
fought against (prejudice). It (touched) me to
see her moved,” Myrick said.
Myrick plays Lena “Mama” Younger in
the Stage Center’s production of Lorraine
Hansberry’s novel “ A Raisin in the Sun.”
The classic, which was published in 1959,
depicts the struggles of the Younger family, a
black family living in a segregated Chicago
during times of racial turmoil. In the play, the
Youngers must fight hard to find happiness,
live their own lives and respect themselves.
The play was handpicked and directed
by Leah Fletcher with the hope of reaching
out to others and touching people on a per
sonal basis.
“I chose this play because watching (the
Youngers) fall apart and having lost their
pride, (we) realize how important family is,“
Fletcher said.
Fletcher said this particular play has not
been performed locally in the past 30 years.
“Normally plays circulate, but Mrs.
Worley, (a volunteer a Stage Center volunteer
)remembers the last time it was here was right
after segregation (ended) in Bryan in the
1970s,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher said every night the audience
reacts to the play in different ways, laughing
at the same lines or sometimes new ones, but
positive reactions are consistently received at
the end of the play.
Fletcher is very adamant in her belief that
people should follow their hopes or dreams
and reach for the stars no matter what others
might think.
“In this society, roles are assigned to us.
I think we can’t live life that way; if we live
like others say, life won’t be fulfilling,”
Fletcher said.
One problem Fletcher said she anticipat
ed was finding a cast to justly portray the
emotions and themes of Hansberry’s work
of art. Fortunately, she said, she found a
powerful cast with no problem.
Many of the actors in the play have
everyday jobs around the Bryan-College
Station area when they are not on stage.
Art Wright • THE BATTALION
Carolyn Myrick (left) plays Lena Younger with Harold Presley playing Harold younger in (tie
Bryan Stage Center’s production of Lorraine Hansberry’s novel, "Raisin in the Sun."
Aside from Myrick, the cast includes
Harold Presley and Raquel Masco, who
play the son and daughter of the Younger
household, Harold and Beneatha Younger.
“I grew up on this play, first seeing the
movie, and loved it,” Myrick said. “1
always wanted to do this play even before 1
knew I wanted to go into acting.”
Myrick said she grew up in
Washington, D.C., and even though her
family tried to protect her from the truth,
she still saw how her family was sometimes
treated unfairly.
Hansberry’s words affect many and con
tinue to reel in more fans. Jessica Fazio, a
senior double major in theater arts and psy
chology had to read “A Raisin in the Sun”
for an English class.
“(Reading the book), at that time, I was
really aggravated because you just don’t
discriminate like that,” Fazio said. “But
what aggravates me the most is that it was
prevalent then and is still around now.”
As far as the theme of the play goes.
Fazio said her personal experiences
discrimination were limited. Coming from
a sheltered and strong Italian Catholic
background, Fazio said she has always
been taught about diversity.
“Some of my dad’s friends made
ments or remarks about our heritage, but
my parents made sure I knew the com
ments were jokes,” Fazio said. “I
never been oppressed, so reading a play
w here they are (oppressed) didn’t hit home
as a personal experience, but it did
home because others shouldn’t experience
that oppression. That is what I was tauglil
my entire life.”
Jessica said she also enjoyed some of
the technical aspects of the play, such as
the old style of language and some of tie
slang that was used.
“A Raisin in the Sun” will return toi
stage Feb. 26 through Feb. 28. All shoft
start at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays are a buy-one-
get-one-free deal while tickets are regularly
$8 for adults arid $7 for seniors and students.
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