CENTER STAGE WITH LADY BEVERLY COHN Lee Edward Colston II’s “The First Deep Breath”

Plays with a dysfunctional family theme have been part of the theatrical landscape going as far back as the ancient Greeks, who spawned several compelling playwrights, including Sophocles, who, among his other plays, wrote “Oedipus at Colonus. “ There is a long list of family-anchored plays, such as Neil Simon’s dramedy Brighton Beach Memoirs. Other family dramas whose theme deals with family dysfunction include Tennessee Williams’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” Clifford Odets’s “Awake and Sing!” and John Guare’s black comedy House of Blue Leaves. Arthur Miller’s seminal body of works of this genre includes A View from the Bridge, All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, and like Tracy Letts’s brilliant August: Osage County, and Miller’s Long Day’s Journey into Night, The First Deep Breath by Lee Edward Colston II earns a definitive place with these historic and enduring great American plays. Brilliantly directed by Steve H. Broadnax III and performed on an exquisite multi-level set by Scenic Designer Michael Carnahan, Act I kicks off with a long fire and brimstone monologue delivered by Pastor Albert Melvin Jones III, (Herb Newsome.) Most of the sermon is devoted to the death of his daughter Diane, the child with whom he felt closest. Shortly after that, we meet the various Jones family members, including Dee-Dee Jones, nicely played by Candace Thomas. She is with her brother AJ, beautifully characterized by Opa Adeyemo, who skillfully mines the multiple layers of his character. He is living a duplicitous life of which the family is unaware. AJ is a senior in high school, and the family, especially his father, believes that he is applying to a seminary to train as a preacher and join him in ministering to the church, which is about to expand in size and scope. This critical addition to the neighborhood comes under closer scrutiny later in the play. AJ tells the family that he’s gotten a full scholarship to Harvard, Temple University, and UCLA, but when he receives a letter, he doesn’t want to open it in front of the family. Dee-Dee has her secret as she is engaged to Leslie Carter (Brandon Mendez Homer) but has her reasons for not telling the family about the status of their relationship. Aunt Pearl, who provides comic relief throughout Acts I and 2, is fabulously played by Deanna Reed-Foster. She lives in the Jones house and is the glue that keeps everything together. She cooks fabulous meals, cleans, and is the primary caretaker for her sister Ruth, rivetingly performed by Ella Joyce. Ruth is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and is suffering memory loss, especially about her daughter’s death, who she fully expects to show up for Thanksgiving dinner. She does have lucid moments from time to time, one of which is entirely unexpected and targeted. The way the character is written, and without taking anything away from the actor playing Ruth, there are similarities between her characterization and Florence Eldridge’s award-winning performance as Mary Cavan Tyrone in Long Day’s Journey Into Night. The next family member to arrive home is Albert Melvin Jones IV, fascinatingly performed by the playwright. Al has just completed a prison sentence for a crime he may or may not have committed, and the truth will be revealed in the dynamic Act 3. During his difficult stay in prison, he converted to Islam, chose a new name, Abdul-Malik, and began to write poetry. He is not welcomed home by his dad, who insists he removes his skull cap. Pastor Jones is unrelenting in his criticisms of his son and is tough on the whole family. In a critical moment, he tells Al, “You are my shame.” Secrets abound in this exquisitely written play, especially one between Al and his childhood friend Tyree, well performed by Keith A. Wallace. The space is filled with memorable lines such as Al to Tyree: “You are my favorite poem,” or by Ruth in a lucid moment at the Thanksgiving table which, after ruminating about being married for 37 years, she declares, “Don’t kill him unless you have help hiding the body.” Acts 1 and 2 take us through the life and times of this family and their challenges, culminating in the third act’s shocking revelations. The fully actualized performances in THE FIRST DEEP BREATH don’t just materialize. Highly skilled, sensitive director Broadnax

III guided this talented cast to present the best possible performances. Also under his guidance is the incredible technical team which includes:

Costume Designer Eduardo Castro; Sound Designer Curtis Craig, who composed a lively soundtrack based on Composer Rashad McPherson’s music; Fight Director Steve Rankin, who staged the realistic fight scenes; and Choreographer DJ Smart. A big shout-out to Lighting Designer Pablo Santiago, who creatively enhanced the unfolding action and covered the transitions between scenes with vibrant shades of blues, greens, and reds, which cast a colorful wash across the stage.

This is a three-act play with two intermissions. I will tell you each act is as strong as the previous one and leads us through this complicated family dynamic which will ultimately reveal shocking surprises you had no idea were coming. And that’s about all I’m going to say other than get your tickets to this perfect theatrical presentation and fasten your seat belts for a bumpy and sometimes funny ride awaiting you.

THE FIRST DEEP BREATH

Gil Cates Theatre

The Geffen Playhouse

10886 Le Conte Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90024

Written by Lee Edward Colston II

Directed by Steve

H. Broadnax III

Tuesday - Friday: 7:30 pm

Saturday: & Sunday: 1:00pm & 7:00pm

Closing: Sunday, March 5, 2023

Running Time: 3 hours and 45 minutes, including two intermissions.

Tickets: $39 - $129 310.208.2028 or www.geffenplayhouse.org