The Justice Theater Project's Skeleton Crew Is a Triumph!

In the wake of the Great Recession, many individuals were thrown into a state of uncertainty like they'd never experienced before. Few individuals would understand that better than the four characters at the center of Dominique Morisseau's period piece, Skeleton Crew.

Produced by The Justice Theater Project and directed by Dr. Nadia Bodie-Smith, the play details the lives of a group of workers at an auto plant in Detroit -- tough-as-nails veteran worker Faye (played by Kalimah Williams); hotheaded sweet-talker Dez (Malcolm S. Green); Shanita (Camryn Sherer), who is with child and without a clear path; and Reggie (Moses T. Alexander Greene), their foreman, who faces a tenuous situation as their plant begins making preparations to shut down. Each of the four must figure out how they will weather the storm, and whether or not they can weather it together.

The cast of this production portrays this story brilliantly, and they act as though they've known each other all their lives. In this way, the period drama is also a family drama; and the bonds the characters share make the tense moments all-the-more tender.

Kalimah Williams is stunning as Faye, perfectly embodying a woman who has been to hell and back, who fights like hell for those she loves, and who is still learning how to accept help when her strength fails her. Camryn Sherer portrays Shanita with so much optimism that it's almost tragic. Sherer's Shanita is a woman who wants to be wanted, and believes that the pains she takes to keep herself useful will keep her protected, even as the floor falls through.

Rather than simply portraying Reggie as an anxious rule follower, Moses T. Alexander Greene is able to convey the pressure that Reggie is under to ensure his friends don't go under, while making sure that his own family's future is secure. Though it took him a minute to find his footing, Greene skillfully portrays a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Finally, Malcolm Green portrays the hot-tempered Dez, who believes that a philosophy of self-preservation will not only bring him through this crisis, but afford him a lifestyle that he's always dreamed about. However, Green tempers Dez's fiery nature with a sensitivity that allows the audience to sympathize with him -- while Reggie has the weight of the world on his shoulders, Dez is one man against the world.

Throughout the show, the cast's strong chemistry and quick banter worked to keep all interactions engaging: the fierce exchanges between Reggie and Dez, the tense scenes between Reggie and Faye, the tender moments between Shanita and Dez, and even a sweet moment in which Shanita does Faye's hair -- all of it was riveting for the audience to watch.

Moreover, their performances were elevated by the construction of the setting and the direction of Dr. Bodie-Smith. Placed on the intimate stage of the Umstead Park United Church of Christ in Raleigh's sanctuary, the closeness of the audience to the action allowed us to feel as though we were really looking through a small window into these people's lives. Perhaps because of this, the set, consisting of a break room and a set of lockers, was exceptionally detailed, featuring functional appliances, a working time puncher, a first-aid kit, and about 50 or so signs on a cork board, most of them notices from Reggie.

Another nice note was the soundtrack -- in addition to the tracks mentioned in the script such as "Get This Money" by Slum Village, there were songs such as "Love's in Need" and "For the Love of Money" to punctuate the different scenes. However, I don't think there was any element that helped bring this production together more than the creative choices by Dr. Bodie-Smith.

It was the little moments, such as Dez running up to open the door for Shanita or the clear choice by Reggie not to report the presence of a gun after much hesitation -- that really made this production feel unique. The only criticism that I might add is that there weren't very many sounds of machinery during the show.

Of course, the many references to plant activities and the slideshow of Detroit's heyday at the beginning of the play reminded the audience of the setting, but I would have liked to hear the plant come to life as well. Otherwise, this production is a triumph and a great achievement for all involved. I can't wait to see what the folks at The Justice Theater Project come up with next.

The cast includes (from left) Camryn Sherer, Malcolm Green, Moses T. Alexander Greene, and Kalimah Williams

Dominique Morisseau's SKELETON CREW (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16-18 and 23-25), directed by Dr. Nadia Bodie-Smith and starring Kalimah Williams as Faye, Moses T. Alexander Greene as Reggie, Malcolm S. Green as Dez, and Camryn Sherer as Shanita (The Justice Theater Project at the Umstead Park United Church of Christ in Raleigh). PRESENTER: https://www.thejusticetheaterproject.org/, https://www.facebook.com/Justicetheater, https://www.instagram.com/justicetheaterproject/, https://twitter.com/justicetproject, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNGoYepGz-n99gOyTAj7QTg/videos?view=0&sort=p. 2023-24 SEASON: https://www.thejusticetheaterproject.org/2324-season-issues-of-our-time. VENUE: https://www.upucc.org/, https://www.facebook.com/UmsteadParkUCC, https://www.instagram.com/umsteadparkucc/, https://twitter.com/UPUCC, and https://www.youtube.com/user/upucc/featured. DIRECTIONS/MAP: https://www.upucc.org/contact. UPUCC COVID-19 POLICY (scroll down): https://www.upucc.org/. SKELETON CREW (2016 Off-Broadway and 2021 Broadway play): https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/60200/skeleton-crew, http://www.iobdb.com/Production/6148, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/skeleton-crew-531759, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_Crew_(play). DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU (Detroit, MI-born playwright and actress and a MacArthur Genius Grant Fellow): http://dominiquemorisseau.com/, https://www.concordtheatricals.com/a/100903/dominique-morisseau http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/42109 https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dominique-morisseau-520005, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5012077/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominique_Morisseau. TICKETS: $24 ($5 students and educators and $20 seniors and active-duty miltary personnel), plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-264-7089 or [email protected]. PLEASE DONATE TO: The Justice Theater Project. Kurt Benrud's Triangle Review Review Permalink.

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