The Black Theatre Troupe's latest production is part comedy, part tragedy, and all truth. Knock Me a Kiss captures the moment when W.E.B. DuBois, one of the intellectual icons of the Harlem Renaissance, overreached and offered up his daughter Yolande to the cause without knowing the whole story. His arrangement of her marriage to internationally renowned poet and thinker Countee Cullen, over her wishes to stay with her bandleader beau, Jimmy Lunceford, was intended to raise the social respectability of all African Americans. However, when Cullen headed to Paris with the best man, the resulting scandal proved quite embarrassing. Charles Smith's play is a fanciful re-creation of a real-life event, exploring history and its effect on the people trapped within it.
Robyn Allen, talented as both an actress and director, helms a strong production. She has gathered an ensemble of equally strong actors to make this lengthy play engaging and effective. Allen and scenic designer Michael Jones turn the John Paul Theatre's roomy modified-thrust stage into a well-appointed Harlem mansion and other locations. Allen's stage pictures are always interesting and the pace is consistent.
Playing an icon is not easy, but Mike Traylor is up to it. This accomplished actor takes a potentially flat role and makes his slightly stuffy, politically motivated W.E.B. DuBois a person by showing us his drive. Acasia Wilson does well in presenting the torn Yolande, working the character's arc from uptight through desperate until she comes into her own. Another excellent performance comes from Black Theatre Troupe regular Kwane Vedrene as the base, energetic Jimmy: This visceral character lights up the stage when he appears. Thomasina Daniels matches Vedrene's power as Yolande's friend Lenora with good comic timing and discernable connections to her fellow actors. Jared Stewart is a very uptight, very rigid Cullen, tipping his character's hand early but always playing it consistently. The cast's only disappointment is Erline Patrick as the matriarch of the DuBois clan; she overplays the craziness of her role.
Complementing the gorgeous set is Michael J. Eddy's subtly effective lighting. Linda Benson's costumes are great at pegging character and era.
At a time when the black community is reeling from the loss of a great advocate -- Coretta Scott King -- this play puts a human face on an ongoing struggle, shedding a harsh light on public policy that rushes over private lives. How sad, how ironic that a bit of history from 1928 should still seem pertinent almost 80 years later.
Knock Me a Kiss runs Feb. 2-19 at the John Paul Theatre on the campus of Phoenix College, 1202 West Thomas Rd., Phoenix. Tickets: (602) 252-8497. Website: www.blacktheatretroupe.org.