A native of the South, I'd never heard of the word gentrification until I moved to New York City -- and even then I didn't fully understand its harrowing effects. To someone from the outside it's easy to miss the many gems that are fixed in place when superficial rubies make their appearance. Harlem is rich with history and culture that dates far before I was even a thought in my grandparents mind but if we are to keep it from being a thing once great in the past we all have to do our part. "The Last Saint on Sugar Hill", playing at Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's The National Black Theatre, is the ideal play to kick off the company's celebration of 45 years of producing socially conscious theater.
"The Last Saint on Sugar Hill", written by the Artistic Director of The New Black Festival, Keith Josef Adkins, gives voice to Harlem's current state of affairs, acknowledging its faults and honoring its achievements. It is exquisitely directed by the renowned Seret Scott, who has painted a sophisticated portrait of Harlem with five leading men, all of whom give award-worthy performances.
Danny Johnson effortlessly steps into the shoes of Napoleon Pettigrew; we follow him and his two sons -- feared property owners in the new Harlem, which is now being filled with foreign residents and fancy restaurants. Napoleon hopes to make a huge profit from a property that is discovered to be a real moneymaker, and the Pittigrew men must make the biggest decision in their lives: whether to save or destroy the last untouched neighborhood in Harlem.
Jaime Lincoln Smith plays the older brother, Dexter, with a heart of gold. Dexter is not one to play with when rent is due, but Smith adds integrity and compassion to the character, who also secretly runs a shelter out of one of Pittigrew's properties. Terrell Wheeler as Z (the younger brother) is the epitome of cool; yet he bares his soul after being dumped by his French girlfriend and overhearing the angered thoughts of his ranting father. Joseph (Yaegel T. Welch), the friendly clinic attendant, not only inspires Dexter to be better, but will also inspire the members of the audience to be better themselves. A stand-out in the play is Chinaza Uche, who has crafted an exceptionally complex character in the Young Homeless Man he plays: he gives us cause to wonder where he's going and where he's been.
The set design by Harlan Penn is truly authentic, creating an amazing landscape for this creative team to explore. In the words of Dr. Teer, NBT welcomes you to your home away from home; there is even an exhibition of pictures documenting the Harlem they found that you walk through as you enter the theater. A lot of people may know of the Apollo Theater, but many more should know about The National Black Theatre. As Jonathan McCrory, Director of the Theatre Arts Program says, "Be a part of the legacy to move Harlem forward."
Performances of "The Last Saint on Sugar Hill" continue through November 23rd. Check out our full event listing here: https://stagebuddy.com/listingdetail.php?lid=15673
