The classic 1960s farce by Douglas Turner Ward, co-founder of the Negro Ensemble Theatre, deals with the sensitive subject of racism in a humorous, black-empowering way. Opening on Friday, November 12, the play will feature seven performances: November 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. at the Louis Armstrong Theatre, PAC.
Ward premiered "Day of Absence" in New York City in 1965, winning Obie Awards for best play and best actor. Insightful and wickedly comic, the play employs reverse "minstrelsy" (early theater's use of black face paint to mimic and denigrate African Americans) to show how ridiculous racism is, particularly when the imaginary town's white people display contempt for black people while at the same time desperately needing them to take care of their children and perform work necessary to keep the town and households running smoothly.
"I believe Ward wrote this play as a retaliation to the ideology rampant in the George Wallace South of the '50s and '60s," said Robin Reese, director of the GVSU production. "Now, 40 years later, racism and the marginalization of African Americans and other minority groups is still a problem that deserves attention in this country and abroad, so the play is still highly relevant." She points to the 2000 presidential election in Florida as a present-day example of a kind of "day of absence," when black people and other minority groups were denied a valid vote.
Though suffused with serious messages of anti-hatred, equality and inclusion, "Day of Absence" is outrageous, physically comedic, and essentially fun, said Reese. The racially mixed cast and crew of more than 20 students present a turned-on-its-head look at a social dilemma that the entire family can enjoy and maybe even discuss.
Tickets are $12 for the general public, $10 for GVSU faculty/staff, and $6 for all students. Purchase at Star Tickets Plus, (616) 222-4000 or www.starticketsplus.com, or at the GVSU Box Office, (616) 331-2300. More ticket information is available at www.gvsu.edu/theatre.
"Day of Absence" is sponsored by the School of Communications with support from the African/African-American Studies Program.
