Sometimes it’s the little things in life that teach us the greatest of lessons. Sometimes we see things and think that everyone sees the same thing. Sometimes we need our eyes opened, to understand our experiences may not be the same as others, even if we have just been part of the same event. Director Aladrian Wetzel makes those sometimes a reality in The Strand’s latest production, Black Super Hero Magic Mama, by Inda Craig-Galván.
Wetzel takes a powerful story and delivers an in your face wake up call. Her mastery of the material is brilliantly displayed onstage. Her cast is believable, heartwarming, and delivers the material in a way that moves the soul. It is clear that she had a vision and has fleshed it out in a provocative display of emotions, and well-rounded cast.
The Set Design by Michael Vincent is minimal but effective. He uses The Strand’s intimate space to the max. More importantly his design allows for Projections Designer Chris Uehlinger to work his magic. In my opinion Uehlinger’s designs brought the whole show together. His imaginative creations kept the story flowing and enhanced its message. Once you add Christen Cromwell’s sound design and Amy Rhodes lighting, you have a perfect technical presentation that stands strong on its own.
The show’s casting of supporting actors is extremely talented. Most play dual roles as a character and the persona of the stages of grief. Omololu Collins, Karen Li, Kayla Manigault Rysheem McGirt, and Alexander Scally do a wonderful job of girding the story. Each are strong actors who settle into their parts snugly and provide their own spice to the story.
Nikki Scroggins (Sabrina Jackson) gives a performance that pulls you into her world and makes you ride the emotional roller coaster that is her life. All too often we hear of a shooting on the news and don’t even give it a second thought. After all this is “Bloodymore Murderland”. Scroggins displays an almost arrogance that says, “No! This should not be acceptable! We are a family not a statistic.” You feel her pain, her lostness, and her grief. She reminds us that behind every story is a life. That while for us tomorrow is just another day, but her world has slowed almost to a stop. She experiences something that no mother should ever have to experience and she does it with us by her side.
Tyrel Brown (Tramarion) and Isaiah Mason Harvey (Flat Joe) deliver a performance that not only balances out the lugubriousness but gives us a glimpse of friendship between two people caught up in a word they didn’t create but are forced to make home. They see a world as it should be and not as it is. They tell a story as only Cervantes could and create an atmosphere of hope. Both are strong actors that play off of each other well. Brown is not afraid to show his anxiety for living in a flawed environment that finally sees him; but at what cost? Harvey provides the comedic break up that the story needs yet does not stray from the idea that he or Brown could be your child. His transition from Eddie Haskell to Mrs. Cleaver’s best bud is believable and provides just the touch of love that the show needs.
The message is simple. If you are thinking that this story doesn’t pertain to you, then you are the exact person that needs to see this production. For two hours there was no me, only us. I was asked questions that made me uncomfortable, and made me examine my role, not in the play, but in life. This is a show that should be performed outdoors so that the whole neighborhood can see that those two little hours are all it should take for you to ask questions. For you to see that those two hours won’t change the world, but they will change me, and that’s a great start.
Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission
Black Super Hero Magic Mama plays through April 10, 2022 The Strand Theatre— 5426 Harford Road in the Hamilton neighborhood of Baltimore, MD. For tickets, call the box office at (443) 874-4917 or purchase them online.
