As Paul and I walked into the Bowmer theater on the last night of the 2019 season, we were still savoring the profound meaningful productions we had seen this past week. How to Catch Creation, written by Christina Anderson, and marvelously directed by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s new Artistic Director Nataki Garrett, was still something we were processing. It was a bittersweet night because it was the last night of a fabulous season, so we were glad the play would be fun and a bit goofy.
It was that but then also, soooooo meaningful. Here’s why:
The Bowmer was full. A woman who worked at the counter in the Member Lounge at the OSF Festival sat next to us. “This is the fifth time I’ve seen this production,” she said. I asked if she attended other of the repertory shows more than once. “Oh yes, but this is my favorite.” The House was buzzing with excitement, people who work for the Festival were greeting each other, the lights were up full when a cheer arose and became a roar. The Director of Hairspray, Christopher Liam Moore walked in and took his seat in the center of the House. We were all on our feet giving a standing ovation, BEFORE the show.The applause continued and a spotlight focused on him. Finally he stood and acknowledged the crowd with a bow of his head and wave to each side of the theater.
Another roar from the crowd: Christopher’s husband walked in, former OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch entered to join Christopher and now we were again on our feet applauding and with tears on our cheeks. We’d loved the superb theater experiences and the vision of Bill, along with his and Christopher’s superb directing of so many plays. We’d miss them. The Musical Director and keyboardist,_____, received cheers and applause. Then our tears were to continue along with standing ovations prior to the show.
Actors Eddie Lopez (Corny Collins)& Safiya Fredericks (Estelle/Dynamites), came down front stage center and each took turns speaking:
They spoke of the death of Congressman Elijah Cummings on the preceding week. They mentioned that he was from Baltimore, the locale of the play. They spoke of how at age 11, Rep. Cummings took action to integrate the public swimming pool in Baltimore; how Cummings was severely beaten by racists, how he still had that facial scar at his death. They announced that that evening’s production of Hairspray! was being performed in honor of Cummings. The entire audience rose and gave a thunderous standing ovation to the memory of Representative Cummings, many of us with free-flowing tears.
The theme of Hairspray! is based in the civil rights movement of the early 60’s. Trudy, the lead female is overweight, so fat shaming was also addressed in the script. The mother is always played by a male actor in drag; and the differences of all sorts were beautifully integrated into this production. The inclusiveness of the OSF production brought actors of different abilities; Cerebral palsy and Down’s Syndrome among them.
So this “light-hearted” musical replete with Motormouth Maybelle’s (actor Greta Oglesbe) solo, sung as a powerful spiritual, encouraging people to march for justice and integration on the “Corny Collins” teen dance t.v. show, moved the entire house to it’s feet: yet another standing ovation. The play was profoundly meaningful, gorgeously sung, danced acted and directed. Thanks to the entire Production team, singers, actors, costumers and crew, along with authors of the book for continuing the belief and hope that we can, YES WE CAN make a difference.
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