“Fortune” at the Midtown International Theatre Festival at the June Havoc Theatre (Closes Saturday August 2, 2014)
“Fortune” at the Midtown International Theatre Festival at the June Havoc Theatre (Closes Saturday August 2, 2014) Written by George Cameron Grant Directed by Joy Kelly Reviewed by David Roberts Theatre Reviews Limited
When someone escapes from a life-threatening event and makes it to safety, that individual might feel that fortune has smiled on him or her. When an entrepreneur starts up a small business with no capital and the business grows to be profitable, that individual might believe she or he has been visited by good fortune. Not so for Miss Rose Fortune (Elizabeth Flax) who traveling as a child from slavery in Pennsylvania and Virginia achieves both and knows exactly how she succeeded: she was blessed by the very hand of God. “Fortune,” currently running at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in NYC, chronicles Miss Rose’s life story with all the ethos and pathos needed.
Rose’s Daddy (Michael Andrews) sacrifices his life as a member of King George III’s “Ethiopian Regiment” in the American Revolutionary War. Wounded in the battle that ironically gives America its freedom from the British Throne, Rose’s Daddy realizes he served on the wrong side and despite his induction with other black loyalists into the “King George County Register of Free Negroes” he is now nothing more than a runaway slave. He leads his ten-year-old daughter Rose (Olivia Gordon) and her Mama (Shannon Harris) to safety in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, as part of the Black Loyalist migration.
Although the “heat” of his leg wound ends his life, Rose’s Daddy’s initiative and foresight lands his daughter Rose and his wife in a safe place to begin a new life. Playwright George Cameron Grant’s script is the heartwarming story of Rose’s new beginnings as a stranger in a strange land. Despite a shaky beginning with distracting lighting mis-cues, the occasional dark stage, and the stage work lights remaining on for the first fifteen minutes of the performance (this was the first performance of the five), the cast found its footing and as a skilled ensemble cast successfully recounted Rose Fortune’s story with passion and intensity.
This tale is narrated by the “present day” Rose Fortune and as she relates the details of her epic journey, members of the cast enter and exit in a series of flashbacks to dramatize the narration. Elizabeth Flax is a powerful presence whose storytelling craft drives the performance from beginning to end. She also has a strong singing voice and an arsenal of acting skills to make Rose’s story believable and ring with authenticity.
Despite having to struggle with the disruptive lighting issues, the cast is uniformly competent. Christopher Michael Bauer is extraordinary as the Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia resident who welcomes Rose (after considerable coaxing from the young Rose (Kali Turner) and gives her the opportunity to found her Rose Fortune Carting Company. Tomike Lee Ogugua is a commanding persona as Jonah who arrives later in the migration of slaves to Nova Scotia and delivers a believable performance as Rose’s love interest and husband.
“Fortune” is the powerful testament to the ability of the individual to overcome seemingly impossible odds to achieve success. The play is also a testament to the importance of family, faith, and the amazing resilience of the human spirit to overcome.
FORTUNE
“Fortune” is presented by The Rose Fortune Company (Robyn Watson, Executive Producer) in association with T Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, as part of the Black Loyalist migration he Midtown International Theatre Festival. Director: Joy Kelly. The creative team includes: Zach Pizza (Lighting and Sound Design); Ali Turns (Costume Design); and Rositsa Timm (Stage Manager). Publicist: Bao Nguyen.
The cast includes Michael Andrews, Christopher Michael Bauer, Dean Conroy, Elizabeth Flaz, Olivia Gordon, Shannon Harris, Kristoffer Infante, Tomke Lee Ogugua, and Kaili Turner.
The Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF)'s fifeenth season will include a slate of full-length plays and musicals, as well as Cabaret MITF. The Festival will run from July 14th to August 10th 2014, at the June Havoc Theatre and the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (1st floor), the Jewel Box Theater (4th floor), and the TBG Theatre (Main Stage) all located at 312 West 36th Street, NYC. Tickets are $18.00 to $20.00 and are available at www.midtownfestival.org or by phone at (866) 811-4111.
“Fortune” continues its run at The June Havoc Theatre (see above) on Wednesday July 23rd at 8:00 p.m.; Friday July 25th at 6:00 p.m.; Saturday July 26th at 1:00 p.m.; and Saturday August 2nd at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $18.00 (see above). The running time is 90 minutes with no intermission.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Monday, July 21, 2014
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