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Black Caesar
By David Barr, III
Directed by Alex Levy
Produced by Pegasus Players
At Truman College
1145 W. Wilson
Chicago, IL
Call 773-878-9761, tickets $25
Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 25 minutes with intermission
Through April 1, 2007
“The only truth is race.” C. J. Caesar
Black Caesar worth a look
David Barr III and Pegasus Players have a relationship with Black Caesar being their sixth collaboration. This is an interesting yet troubled work in need of much cutting, some tightening and a faster, more focused pacing. Ultimately, Black Caesar is a worthy play that presents the shades of gray behind most powerful, complex men. Jack Magaw’s large, multi-level set featuring pillars pasted with newsprint, gave the show a sprawling, epic look deftly depicting Caesar’s world.
Indeed, Black Caesar, in its world premiere, is an African-American adaptation of the Orson Wells film classic Citizen Kane. It chronicles the life of C.J. Caesar, a black newspaper mogul who builds a media empire through playing the ‘race card’ despite its exacerbating racial tensions. We see him getting caught up in ego and the intoxication of power as he becomes a publisher who personally decides to use his newspaper to tell blacks what they want or need to hear at the expense of the truth. Propaganda and racism is tool. This character sketch was hurt by slow pacing, scenes that rambled on and by Alfred H. Wilson’s uneven performance. Wilson fumbled many lines, seem hesitant and stiff in several scenes. He was also quite effective and commanding in others. This was an inconsistent performance. It taints the entire show.
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Playwright David Barr, III needs to make his mind up if his play is really Caesar’s story or T. Darrly Heggan’s story? Heggan is a cynical, old-style news reporter (nicely played by Andre Teamer) who resists writing a flattering obituary of Caesar since the newspaper baron fired him. Heggan narrates the flashback bio-drama as he struggles with his personal dislike for Caesar and his professional opinion that Caesar was a demigod with questionable ethics. Ronald Conner’s Travis is the young black editor who chides Heggan to realize that blacks must not be too harsh in attacking their heroes such Caesar. Teamer is terrific as the hard-drinking and quite ethical reporter.
Once Barr trims the show and arrives at a clear focus, Black Caesar will emerge as a first-rate bio-drama. As presented, it needs a faster pace and actors in command of their lines. Hopefully, that will emerge as the run continues. Take note of this drama, it contains issues worth thinking about.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2007
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