The Black Underground Theater Association and the drama department, will present this term's first 12:30 repertory Theater Production, "Lawd Have Mercy," this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The play's author, James Riddick '95, first presented his play in 1992 at the end of an introductory drama class.
Play director and BUTA Artistic Director Randall Dottin presented a proposal this term to the drama department to include "Lawd Have Mercy" in this term's 12:30 reps spots.
"The 12:30 repertory theater program allows students to develop acting and directing skills. Originally it was a kind of lunch break [for students] to see theater," Dottin said. "Because of the increase in classes students were unable to see them, 12:30 reps are now performed at 8:00."
Riddick said his family and New York environment strongly influenced his play.
The terminology 'Lord have mercy' is very familiar to Riddick. "Lord have mercy is an expression my mother says. I guess I grew up hearing that phrase all the time. It also represents what the play is about-the Lord should have mercy on the family," Riddick said.
Riddick said the play is about a lower-middle-class black family, the Clarks, headed by widower and reverend father William Clark, played by Darren Jones '95.
William has had to raise four children on his own because of his wife's death. The four children are Nathaniel, played by Riddick, Niana (Marsha Blake '96), Felicia (Neisha Powells '95) and William Clark Junior (John Barros '96).
All of the kids are successful young black adults. Junior, the youngest, is an intelligent young man but he feels neglected by the family, especially his father. As a result he becomes involved in drug dealing, drug abusing and numbers running.
The father does not know what to do about Junior. He feels he has done everything he can, including chastised him, talked to him, and made the other kids talk to him.
"Like most parents who have kids suffering from drug [abuse] or any kind of strife, the intent to help is there but a parent feels he can do nothing," Riddick said. The father relies on the law to discipline his son.
The father is also heavily involved in the church. The play opens on William's Church's 25th anniversary, called Umoja. He wants the family to be together for the anniversary.
The character of Nathaniel, the eldest son, faces the dilemma of many black police officers as to whether they are helping or hindering their community.
Two themes Riddick presents are self-respect and family unity.
"The play deals with forging a new-found respect and love for oneself and who we are. Family unity I think is very important. The play shows the dire consequences when a family is not emotionally, physically and spiritually there for each other," Riddick said.
Riddick wants the Dartmouth community to see his play. One personal reason is the lack of respect he notices on campus.
"During my years here my ideals and values were not respected. People felt they knew who I was, what type of person was because of where I came from and where I grew up," Riddick said.
The biggest reason why Riddick wants the people at Dartmouth to see the play is to provide them with a sense of black family history.
"There is a spirituality, a sense of family, a sense of guidance, a sense of black family history that most people overlook," Riddick said.
"I want the Dartmouth community to leave this play respecting themselves and respecting each other. I personally feel that's what lacking on this campus. We don't treat each other as people but we treat each other as walking ideologies."
Riddick said the writing and acting experiences involved with the play have taught him a lot about himself.
"As a writer I had tunnel vision of what I thought the play was. As we went through rehearsals it became much more," he said.
"After getting people's input I learned the play had so much foundation. I learned that there is a writer self and an actor self and they complement each other," Riddick said.
Dottin said this play is different from others he has directed because it is the most conventional.
"The play has the clearest message. The play is showing the strengths and contradictions of the black family, problems with absent identity, responsibility of upper-class blacks to lower-class blacks. These themes are not only relevant to the black community but have universal implications," Dottin said.
BUTA, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last term, is becoming more visible on campus. Last term BUTA produced "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf," directed by Zola Mashariki '94 and "Seizing the Brotherlines," directed by Dottin.
"[By] having a play performed in the Bentley Theater last term and Center Theater this term we are making ourselves more accessible to the campus," Dottin said. "As a result of this increased accessibility we will have a closer relationship to the drama department and hopefully expand our horizons into more academic and more challenging pieces in the future."
"More black students are interested in the arts and are not afraid to show material. BUTA hopefully will be doing more student-written plays," Dottin said. He is currently working on a full-length play he wrote, Savannah Joint, for next term.
"Lawd Have Mercy" will be performed Thursday and Friday and 8:00 and Saturday at 8:30 in Center Theater. Admission is free.
