IF YOU GO

What: ‘Home’

When: April 1- 4, 8 p.m. and April 4-5, 2 p.m.

Where: Syracuse Stage, The Black Box Theater

How Much: Free

As a young man, all Cephus Miles can think about is living on the land his entire life. He wants to be a farmer working his grandfather’s plot in Cross Roads, N.C. He dreams of marrying Pattie Mae, the only girl he’ll ever love.

He’s comfortable at home.

Miles, played by senior acting major Semaj Miller, opens Syracuse University Drama’s production of Samm-Art Williams’ ‘Home’ as an old man. The 1 hour, 45-minute show then jumps to his childhood and follows him as he recounts his memories of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

‘Home’ displays artful direction on the part of Sonita Surratt and impeccable acting by the four-person cast. It’s great to see such work from students – the play is Surratt’s MFA thesis. All parts of the show come together to produce a piece of art, worthy of the standing ovation the audience gave it.

The play is showing at Syracuse Stage’s Black Box Theater, an intimate, 60-person venue that offers audience members the chance to experience live theater.

The small cast and intimate setting works well for a show as poetic as ‘Home.’ The usually dark theater is transformed by a beautiful backdrop of trees and leaves that scatter to outline the edges of the stage.

Cephus’ story is told through vignettes. The style can be confusing at the beginning of the show, when the actors change only minor elements of their costumes before assuming another role or age. The only difference between one role and another is a straw hat or a shawl. For example, when Cephus changes from one character to another, he removes his shoes and socks, untucks his shirt and all of a sudden he’s a young boy going to school.

Woman 1 and Woman 2, played by sophomore acting majors Nowani Rattray and Elisabeth Tsubota, play too many characters to count. Each new role highlights another facet of their talents, including Tsubota’s bluesy singing voice.

The transitions between characters and eras are effortless. And despite the lack of intermission, ‘Home’ flows through the time.

Woven throughout the story is Cephus’ romantic relationship with Pattie Mae, played by junior acting major Danielle Lenee. Miller and Lenee are convincing as high school lovebirds preparing to wed. When Pattie goes off to college in Virginia, she promises Cephus she will write everyday and visit whenever she can. Cephus promises to never love anyone else.

Cephus carries his love of Pattie no matter how far he travels from home, as shown through scenes where both are on stage, though not in the same geographical place.

Miller proves his acting chops as Cephus. From the second the show starts until the very end, he never leaves the stage or falls out of character. Throughout the play, Miller must portray Cephus at a variety of ages.

When Cephus is a young man, Miller alters his gait and bounds across the stage effortlessly. During the scenes when Cephus comes home again after desegregation, he’s aged. He appears haggard from his life experiences and puzzled at the new culture that has developed in his hometown.

All of the character changes are minute, but Miller emphasizes each with the right amount of care. It’s clear that the entire cast and crew worked tirelessly to produce such an artful production.

In her director’s note, Surratt wrote ‘Cephus is you and… While everyone doesn’t make it back home, we never stop hoping they will hear the call of Home.’

All performances are in the Black Box Theater at Syracuse Stage. Seats are free of charge but reservations are needed. Call the box office at (315) 443-3275. ‘Home’ will be performed six additional times between Wednesday and Sunday.

kmimamur@syr.edu

Published on March 29, 2009 at 12:00 pm