BWW Reviews: Intiman's TROUBLE IN MIND Brims With Racial Inequality and Integrity

Art and integrity or money and success? Which do you strive for or can you have both? That's the underlying issue at hand in Intiman's current production of Alice Childress' "Trouble In Mind". And what begins as a wry little comedy eventually becomes a seething indictment of racial inequality in the arts and beyond. And much of that delicious intensity is due to the stirring performances from the cast and brilliant storytelling from director Valerie Curtis-Newton.

Set in the 50's the play centers on Wiletta (Tracy Michelle Hughes), an African American actress with some success in her career who now has an opportunity to perform a lead dramatic role in a racially charged play on Broadway. Wiletta has made it through her career through her talent, of course, but also due to her ability to smile and tell the white directors and producers for whom she works exactly what they want to hear. But this play is causing her to dig deeper into herself and when she disagrees with the direction of the play from her white director, Al Manners (Tim Gouran), Wiletta must choose between the integrity she has left and her desire to make it big.

Curtis-Newton has taken this period piece and illuminated how many of these issues still exist today (sad to say). Plus the play is infused with such biting wit mixed in with the drama, and Curtis-Newton has not shied away from any of it, that it creates a rich and vibrant story.

The ensemble cast led by Hughes is superb. Gouran manages a somewhat duplicitous and slimy character while never making the man completely abhorrent. And Gouran sells his rant at the end of the play while misguided in its nature with a conviction and intensity that you almost feel for the man. Shontina "Tina" Vernon and G. Valmont Thomas as two of the other experienced black actors in the cast lend much of the comedy to the piece but then also bust out with some beautifully emotional moments giving that much more depth to their characters. Mark Anders also turns in some wonderfully comedic elements as his character turns on a dime between his own meek persona and his character's strength and bravado. Andrew Lee Creech and Skylar Tatro take on similar youthful perspectives to the issues at hand but from polar opposite vantage points and add an air of youthful modern naiveté. But it's Hughes who walks off with the show. Her stunning portrayal of a woman fighting to retain her power after a lifetime of relinquishing it is nothing short of sublime. And her growth and arc throughout the play is a tour de force performance.

Childress' play itself is an astounding piece of work as it blends the lighter and darker moments of life and I'm happy to see it being getting some new life. And Curtis-Newton and her remarkable cast have tackled this piece with a voracious enthusiasm and given us an extraordinary evening of theater.

"Trouble In Mind" performs at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center (formerly Intiman Playhouse) through September 15th. For tickets or information contact the Intiman box office at 206-441-7178 or visit them online at www.intiman.org.

Photo credit: Chris Bennion

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