Written in 1959 by Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun has become a touchstone in American theatre. Peopled with authentic characters and the universal struggle to scratch out a larger place in the world, the play speaks across the generations and seems especially timely given the national dialogue we’re having on overt and covert racism.
Indiana Repertory Theatre opened the year with a strong production of Raisin, starring Chike Johnson as Walter Lee Younger, and Kim Staunton as Lena Younger. Johnson’s Walter Lee is a down, but not out, poor driver with dreams of co-owning a liquor store to provide for his family and grab a little bit of the American Dream for himself. The only way for him to get there, however, is to use the insurance money his mother Lena will get after his father’s death. Lena has her own dreams for the money: a nice home in a safe neighborhood for herself and Walter Lee, his wife Ruth (Dorcas Sowunmi), her daughter Beneatha (Sori Ayers), and grandson Travis (Lex Lumpkin). Beneatha also has dreams of being a doctor and getting an education, but is torn romantically between “white-washed” George Murchison (Jordan Bellow) and Nigerian student Joseph Asagai (Elisha Lawson), who leads her to explore a whole new world.
We also discover that the hard-working Ruth is pregnant, and thinking about not having it because of the family’s money woes. A woman worn out by poverty and endless work, Ruth’s dreams are simple: a bigger home where they don’t have to share a bathroom with others in the apartment building, a bedroom for her son who must sleep on the couch, perhaps a little peace and less stress. Small and large, the “dream deferred” is almost at hand when the insurance check comes. Walter pushes for the money to get involved in the liquor store but is rebuffed by his mother, who buys a home in an all-white neighborhood. The leftover money she entrusts to Walter to put into a savings account for Beneatha’s education and money for Travis to go to school, but Walter takes it and gives it to friend Bobo (D. Alexander) who passes it along to another friend for investment — only to see the friend run away with it. The catastrophe, and Walter’s lie to his mother, is revealed just as a homeowner’s association representative (Paul Tavianini) shows up to offer to buy the newly-purchased home at some profit — to keep the black family out. Walter almost takes the offer on behalf of the family to compensate for some of the loss, but decides that salvaging their pride and achieving a small part of the deferred dream is more important.
The always wonderful Kim Staunton is outstanding as Mama Lena Younger, taking us on a complex emotional journey in the cramped Younger apartment. Chike Johnson pitches his performance beautifully between big dreams and deep despair. Sowunmi’s subtle characterization of Ruth as a woman who finds a way to dig deeper to keep stable in a changing world is worth special attention. Director Timothy Douglas teases big performances out the cast on the IRT Mainstage.
Scenic Designer Tony Cisek outdoes himself with the mutlilayered stage design that gives us the intimacy of the Younger living room in the context of late 1950s Chicago projects.
Raisin in the Sun runs through Feb. 3. Call 317-635-5252 for ticket availability and pricing.
