(HOLLYWOOD PRESS CORPS) — New York City, New York — Lonne Elder III’s “Ceremonies in Dark Old Men,” currently being revived at the Theatre at St. Clement’s in NYC, offers a poignant and timeless glimpse into the lives of a Black family in 1950s Harlem.
The primary theme in “Ceremonies of Old Men” is the definition of black masculinity: it is a tale about action and self-realization.
Directed by Clinton Turner Davis, the play centers on Russell B. Parker, a former vaudeville performer who now idles in his struggling barbershop, reminiscing about his past with his friend William Jenkins.
His two sons, Theo and Bobby, are drawn into petty criminal schemes, while his hardworking daughter Adele bears the weight of the family’s financial stability. This revival, the first in New York City in nearly four decades, masterfully captures the simmering tensions and frustrations within the Parker household as their individual dreams clash with the harsh realities of their environment.
Featuring a compelling performance by Norm Lewis as Russell, the production highlights the play’s enduring themes of family dynamics, aspiration, and the consequences of misguided attempts at achieving a better life. The supporting cast, including Felicia Boswell, Jeremiah Packer, Calvin M. Thompson, James Foster Jr., Morgan Siobhan Green and Bryce Michael Wood, effectively portrays the complexities of each character’s desires and struggles.
The play, a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1969, remains a significant work in American theater, exploring the “ceremonies” or rituals of survival, friendship, and self-deception within a community grappling with economic hardship and societal pressures. This revival serves as a powerful reminder of the play’s lasting relevance and its contribution to portraying the intricacies of Black family life on stage.
