Ujima Theatre Company opened their season with American Son, and created an excellent production of this very intense, very timely drama.

4 a.m. in a Police Station

Defying Expectations

In a tight 76 minutes, the four-character play explores the fears of parents with a  child at risk of being detained and harmed by police because of his race. It goes deeply into the subtleties of racism, and how it permeates the interactions between blacks and whites in the culture, the community, and the home. In addition, we witness the deconstruction of a marriage as the couple spar, blame, and expose their fears and dreams for their son. We get to know Jamal through his parents as they talk about him while waiting to hear what has happened. He is the fifth character in the play and is as fully drawn as the four we see on stage.

There are no false moments in this very well-crafted compelling narrative. It never surrenders to stereotypes and just as it appears the arc of the play is on one path and our expectations are that it will continue that way, we are surprised by the turns it takes. It is riveting.

Bringing the Story to Life

Tanika Holmes is brilliant as Kendra. She is completely exposed. Her love for her son, her rage at the police and the racism that puts him in danger, her fears for him, her fury with her husband and love for him are all laid bare. Her quiet monologue as she tells the officer about who her son really is, is mesmerizing. Her mother’s love shines through what began as a sarcastic retort to police questions and becomes a reminiscence of her sweet child’s life.

Christopher Guilmet is her estranged husband, Scott, an Irish American through and through. He is excellent as we see him caught between his own culture and dreams for his son, his anger at and love for Kendra, and his growing understanding of the reality of what a mixed-race child faces in America. When his Irish temper erupts, all hell breaks loose.

Mike Benoit as Office Larkin has the rather thankless role of the white cop who knows he’s a racist but does his best to keep that at bay while talking with Kendra. But it seeps out in his conversations with her, and then flares up at times. He plays it well with attempts to placate her with donuts and Emily Dickenson, while insulting her with his clumsy attempts to understand her.

Last, but certainly not least, is the very intense and clearly man-in-charge, Tuhran Gethers as Lt. Stokes, the family liaison officer. He commands the stage and the people on it. He is a drill sergeant in a suit. His presence and demeanor are such that one wants to stand up, salute and say, “Yes, sir. No, sir”, and tell him whatever he wants to know. Yikes!

Don’t Miss American Son at Ujima Theatre Company

Direction is by Chicago-based Buffalo native Aaron Mays. He keeps the action moving and his actors on point in what could have turned into melodrama, but never does. He keeps it real and that makes it all the more gripping. 

American Son is a compelling play, and Ujima has created an excellent production of this very intense, very timely drama.