Anacostia Playhouse’s ‘Night Mother,’ Tackles Love, Suicide, Stigma

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

While on the surface, Marsha Norman’s “Night Mother,” appears to be a play about a mother, daughter duo, the play, which runs at Anacostia Playhouse until May 13, unearths taboo topics, allowing audiences to grapple with their own values– particularly as it relates to love and suicide.

Directed by Deidre LaWan Starnes, Anacostia Playhouse’s “Night Mother” artfully reveals the beauty and precious moments that exist even in pain.

In the play, daughter Jessie, played by Lezlie Hatcher, decides to end her own life. No– this isn’t a spoiler. Actually, one should probably know suicide is a topic discussed in great detail in the show. But despite the darkness in this tale, there’s also so much light and hope.

“I wanted to bring out the beauty,” Starnes said in a Washington Informer WIN-TV interview.

“We have a lot of misconceptions, particularly in [the Black] community, about death by sui- cide, and about depression and also the strength of the Black and brown woman. And so I wanted to show us multifaceted women–women who could laugh, women who could cry, women who could feel joy, and women who could feel pain deeply. And it was quite a journey for the actors, and they took that ride with me.”

From the engaging acting by Hatcher and Patricia Williams-Dugueye as the mother Thelma, to the detailed set by April Joy, and the enchanting sound and lighting designs by Jerrett Harrington, every element of the show was captivating and revealed the hard work it took for Starnes, Stage Manager Denise Richards, and the entire team to breathe life into this heavy production.

Read the full article on washingtoninformer.com. WI

“James Brown is brought to Macon, Georgia., to record his first hit because of Little Richard. He’s a conductor on this little rock ‘n’ roll train.”

With Elvis Presley renowned as the king of rock ‘n’ roll mainly for mainstreaming Black music, the documentary leaves no doubt that Richard deserves that title and more.

“People knew his connection to the Beatles, but he talks about these five guys that he meets in Europe,” Cortés noted.

“But when he goes to Hamburg, Richard has one musician with him, a very young Billy Preston. So, he introduces Billy Preston to the Beatles. And as many people know, Billy Preston then goes on to be called what some people consider the fifth Beatle.

“So, you see the connection there. And you understand that he’s the catalyst and the inspiration for so many.”

Throughout his illustrious career, however, the music world failed to recognize the genius of Little Richard, and he continually reminded them of the egregious oversight.

In 1997, the American Music Awards finally gave Richard the recognition he craved and deserved.

In receiving the Award of Mer- it, the emotions Richard usually wore on his sleeve were revealed as plainly as ever.

Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia, in 1932, Little Richard left his home as a young boy when his father discovered Richard was gay.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he said after composing himself during that ceremony.

The award’s inscription noted that Richard “is the founding father who sent rock ‘n’ roll into orbit with his super-charged performances and spirit. He’s served as an inspiration to his fellow artists.”

Unabashedly candid—and some might say conceited—Richard let loose.

“I am the originator. I am the emancipator. I am the architect of rock ‘n’ roll,” he demanded.

“I am the man that started it all. I want you to know tonight that rhythm and blues had a baby, and somebody named it rock ‘n’ roll.” WI @StacyBrownMedia