To Fly

Back from Fly at Ford's, based on the story of the Tuskegee Airmen.

cast of FLY ~ photograph by Scott Suchman

 

I loved the production but was particularly impressed with the use of dance as a character and as a dramaturgical choice. It's an element that is unexpected in a non-musical but always adds richness and dimension. As the non-speaking tapping narrator, Omar Edwards was powerfully expressive.

Omar Edwards ~ photograph by Scott Suchman

 

In one scene, slowed down to a series of gestures, the black airmen are selected to guard the white bombers in a mission over Berlin. The blacks teach the whites their ritual of writing down their fears and throwing the paper into a fire; they are ultimately united by their fear, their bravery, their duty, and their freedom in flight.

It's truly an inspiring story, but Fly does not shy away from depicting the racism that the men faced. Ford's veteran actor James Konicek ("Captain O'Hurley"/"Instructor 2") seems to be called on frequently for these types of white-bigot characters. The heart-in-throat moment, though, came from Matt Bassett as one of the white bombers telling the black airman escorting him, "I'm sorry," an apology for having witnessed a lynching triggered by an incident at his father's store.

The small Sunday matinee audience gave the men a standing ovation. I wouldn't mind seeing this again, if only to try another seat. Honestly, are there any good seats at Ford's? I was in A-110 in the balcony, where the guard rail blocked half my view of the stage. I moved back a couple of rows and over a bit, still couldn't see around people and pillars.

No action on the Ford's stage should ever take place within 10 yards of the edge closest to the audience. Upstage is good. *g*

Still straining to see, I ended up in the second to last row of the balcony, which is where I fell in love with Ford's Theatre in the first place.

FLY plays at Ford's Theatre through October 21.
Written by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan.
Directed by Ricardo Kahn.

Cast:
Omar Edwards as Tap Griot
Christopher Wilson as Chet Simpkins
Eric Berryman as W.W.
Mark Hairston as Oscar (also dance captain)
Damian Thompson as J. Allen
James Konicek as Captain O'Hurley/Instructor 2
Matt Bassett as Staff Sergeant/Instructor 1/Barman/Bomber Co-Pilot Shaw (also fight captain)
Clark Young as Instructor 3/Colonel Snopes/Bomber Pilot Reynolds

love, hosaa
theater-flyer