Sometimes reviewing theater can be so easy, particularly when you are treated to a performance by an actor the caliber of Avery Brooks.
Brooks stars in the lead role of Alfred in the American debut of Kwame Kwei-Armah's bittersweet dramedy, "Let There Be Love," now at Baltimore's Center Stage. Brooks has played tragic heroes from Shakespeare, Willy Loman from "Death of A Salesman," a private detective, and even a 24th century StarFleet captain. From "Uncle Tom's Cabin," to "Deep Space Nine," Brooks brings something very special to every role he inhabits. Namely...
Comfort. No matter how diverse, every part seems tailor made for Brooks, smooth as silk around his six-plus-foot frame, and Alfred is no different. Here, Brooks puts away his phaser and iambic pentameter to become an elderly, cantankerous, Nat King Cole-adoring West Indies expatriate living in England, lashing out with his cane and his tongue at anyone who dares offend him...which in this case, is everybody, particularly his daughter, Gemma (Pascale Armand) and his Polish housekeeper, Maria (Gretchen Hall).
With an island accent that was sometimes almost too good for my Bawlmer ears, Brooks slowly reveals himself to be, despite his bravado, a frail and broken man. Unable to connect with his daughter who seems more interested in getting a handout than lending a hand, Brooks finds an affinity with Maria. They are both far from home, both dealing with their own personal pain.
The entire play takes place within the living room of Alfred's London home decorated with a 1960s test-patterned wallpaper and nearly-matching carpet which, as my theater companion noted, would be very bad for anyone dealing with schizophrenia. The décor reflects how Alfred is anchored to the past, such as his love of Lily, his antique turntable from which he plays his favorite records, including the aforementioned "Nat," songs including "Let There Be Love," hence the play's title.
While Gemma cannot get past her father's fury, Maria stands the flames, including Alfred's initial prejudice--he refuses to call her anything but "Polish"--to explore what it is that makes this old man tick. Their journey is the stuff of this play which ultimately brings Alfred home--home to his native land, and finally, to peace.
Armand has a rather thankless role as Gemma who must suffer the anger her father feels, not only toward her for what he perceives as his daughter's unfulfilled potential, but toward her never-seen sister who abandoned her husband and stepchild. She does not have the opportunity within Kwei-Armah's play to effect change in her father; that role is reserved for Maria whom Hall portrays with considerable spunk and love of life, particularly when she brings Lily into the modern age, daring to give Madonna a spin. The scene where Alfred joins in, singing along with Maria, is both comic and touching.
There were more than a few moist eyes in the audience at curtain's fall, and a standing ovation rendered to Mr. Brooks who was so fluid, natural--comfortable--in his performance...smooth as a Nat King Cole ballad...that it would seem no effort at all.
Directed by Jeremy B. Cohen, Let There Be Love runs through March 7th in Center Stage's Pearlstone Theater, located at 700 North Calvert Street. The play runs two hours and 20 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. Tickets are $10-$60 and may be obtained by visiting www.centerstage.org. or by call 410-332-0033.
