REVIEW: ‘Skeleton Crew’ opens on Broadway
Photo: Skeleton Crew stars Joshua Boone and Chanté Adams. Photo courtesy of Matthew Murphy / Provided by BBB with permission.
Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, is now playing at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway, courtesy of the Manhattan Theatre Club. The production is a marvel, thanks to a strong cast, resonant storyline and instructive commentary about labor and the value of work. This one is a winner.
Morisseau’s play centers on a stamping plant in Detroit in 2008. The nation, the city and the factory have fallen on hard times, and the workers, who relax in the employees’ break room, can sense that their employment might soon be coming to an end. The audience follows Shanita (Chanté Adams), who is pregnant and picking out names for her baby on the way; Dez (Joshua Boone), who flirts with Shanita and promises to walk her to her car each night; and Faye (Phylicia Rashad), a worker who has been with the company for decades. They converse, commiserate and try to stay warm during the harsh weather of a Detroit winter. Their supervisor is Reggie (Brandon J. Dirden), who frequently stops by and reminds the employees of non-negotiable rules, like no smoking, which Faye is prone to breaking. A final performer is Adesola Osakalumi, who offers choreographic asides in between scenes.
Skeleton Crew, at its heart, is about labor, dignity and the relationships that form amongst colleagues. Other important issues enter the two-hour narrative as well, including Reggie’s distrust of Dez, Shanita’s hope for a better future, and the economic and personal struggles faced by Faye. Eventually, after a dramatic episode involving a string of burglaries at the stamping plant, fingers are pointed, lines are crossed and relationships are tested.
The acting is superb from each of the cast members. Rashad is a legend of American theater, and her character of Faye receives the fullest and most poignant arc in the show. Boone holds the heart of the piece. When his character is questioned about a plot development, he finds himself defending his actions, a position he has been forced into time and time again throughout his life. Adams is a wonderful performer as well, conversing with Faye and Dez about the future and what might happen if the plant closes. Perhaps the best of the ensemble is Dirden, an always dependable actor who has graced the stage in everything from All the Way to the fondly remembered The First Breeze of Summer. His Reggie character finds himself as a mid-level supervisor, and he demands order and rule-following on the job. But his way of leadership is more understanding and sympathetic — until he is pushed one step too far.
Morisseau is dedicated to telling narratives about Detroit and its African-American community and history, and Skeleton Crew serves as one-third of her three-play cycle The Detroit Project, with the other two being Paradise Blue and Detroit ’67. As a writer, she is skilled at building believable characters who live and work in the real world, sometimes yearning for better days to come. Her creations feel authentic and fully realized, roles filled with triumphs and struggles, imbued with power and setbacks. In this piece, her examination of labor relations is thoughtful and real (and often humorous), letting the characters express themselves and be their true selves, and yet she also keeps a few mysteries tucked away for well-timed revelations. There are many lasting images that stay with the audience after experiencing Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew; she is clearly one of the most exciting playwrights working right now.
Santiago-Hudson, who has a long association with Manhattan Theatre Club, is an adept director and interpreter of these words. He is able to keep the energy high, the ensemble on track and the storytelling riveting. The carefully planned interludes by Osakalumi, a dancer with many talents, are nice transitions between days and shifts.
Skeleton Crew is a fascinating, emotion-filled journey with characters trying to work, trying to be respected, trying to live amidst uncertain times in an often unforgiving world. The play is powerful and moving.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Skelton Crew, by Dominique Morisseau and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, is now playing at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway, courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club. Starring Chanté Adams, Joshua Boone, Brandon J. Dirden, Adesola Osakalumi and Phylicia Rashad. Running time: 2 hours with intermission. Click here for more information and tickets.
