Reverie by James Ijames is a riveting play that a fierce discussion on what grief can look like. It’s also a story on embracing people for who they are. Sometimes our fear and uncomfortableness gets the best of us. What is the right thing? In this production we see Paul played by Damien Wallace interact with Jordan (David Bazemore) in the most unethical way and brings on the start of a healing journey. It will make you laugh, gasp, and definitely think.
A special congratulations to Director, James IJames for his production of Fat Ham that won him a Pulitzer Prize in Drama.
The Unannounced Visitor
If you have ever read any of my reviews I like to paint an incomplete picture. We start the story in the most unethical way. A knock on the door from Paul starts it off. Right off the bat, cultural references are being played. Knocking on someone’s door to surprise them isn’t always acceptable no matter who they are. Black people in general want you to do the “call before you come.” This is revisited later on as the interaction continues. Jordan goes to the door with all familiarity as he is smacked (not literally) in the face of a past love. It’s not quite the way you may be thinking.
So many of us has had love entanglements that didn’t result into a full blow love relationship. A deep connection if you will of passion and newness without the title. So when Jordan opens the door he is greeted with a reality he’s not ready or sure he can handle.
Reverie and the Grief Process
Paul is the Father of Lucas played by Justin Mitchell. As he is deep in this grief he takes a wild plane ride to Jordan’s house announced. This invasion if you will has Jordan taken back. There’s no preparation for it. Paul is on the journey of why he didn’t or couldn’t bring himself to be direct with his son and his son’s sexuality. Isn’t that just like so many in the Black community. We wait until something to happen before we embrace our own. Lucas too has to deal with the fact that he is aware that he is too scared to be vulnerable with his dad. He can fish with him, eat with him, but the thought of being fully seen by his Father still wanes even after his death.
What we don’t accept here in this realm has a possibility to stay with us into the next. You will see Lucas go back and forth in almost a fantasy/dream life between his dad, Paul and Jordan.
The Dance of Healing in Reverie
The song, Dance with my Father played in the back of my mind as I watched Paul and Jordan embrass. The flow of happy and grief strong in between them. What a dance would have been like for Lucas to witness. The inability to embrace Lucas and his partner in the fullness of who they are and would have been. I thought about the many in the LGBTQ+ community felt watching this moment. I hurt thinking of it. So many of them having to lead lives that aren’t embraced from their loved ones. Simply seeing and feeling accepted is a beautiful and freeing thing.
What is Happiness vs. Peace?
I think our society talks more about happiness than peace. This is why so many chase after things instead of peace. Peace is priceless and freeing. I felt that when Jordan said it. Having peace is the principle part of life that some don’t quite understand until you get into your early 40s. All in your 20s and above you wrestle with happiness and all of the false sense of hope it brings. Peace is a staple. It lives with you and makes decisions for you that may not always include those in your life who should be happy for you. Peace is like an expensive piece of art. It’s hard to acquire but once you have it, too costly to simply lay in a back room.
Beautiful Display of Black Men
I loved watching this all Black male cast. You don’t see a lot of this. The director, Jerrell Henderson is amazing at what he does. I had the privilege of attending his direction with Untitled. This unfolding of hard conversations my only hope is that it makes people think. When I am at productions like this, I not only lean into the play but I people watch. Various moments I heard some uncomfortable comments from audience members. I mention it in this piece as a reminder that we have a long road to go. The ability for all people to show up as themselves is still a challenge. The issues that Black and Brown LGBTQ+ people face in their lives, homes, work, and world is real.
If this play makes people “see,” it would be a blessing. But to see and live, accept, and embrace would be what we all should be used to. Thank you to the entire cast. You may remember Damien in his own directed play, Wine in the Wilderness that had me in tears. Thanks to Azuka who treat me and everyone like family every time. A special thanks to production staff and all who played a part in this as well as Aversa PR. The last showing of this amazing thought provoking play is on Sunday May 22, 2022. Make sure you get your tickets.
