'Raisin' still relevant

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Della Graham, left, plays Lena (Mama) Younger and Judith Henry plays Mrs. Johnson, in Lorraine Hansberry's play "A Raisin in the Sun" at the Yellow Brick Studio. Photos by Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

'A Raisin in the Sun' Presented by The Actors' Group Premieres at 7:30 p.m. today; repeats at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Wednesdays, and at 4 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 13 Yellow Brick Studio, 625 Keawe St. $10 722-6941

In an essay discussing the play's historic 1959 Broadway debut, writer James Baldwin wrote: "Never in the history of the American theater had so much of the truth of black people's lives been seen on the stage."

And, at the time, he was right.

But is Lorraine Hansberry's landmark play, which focuses on the struggles of a working-class black family in the years just before the eruption of the civil-rights era, still as relevant and groundbreaking today? Diddy on Broadway notwithstanding, that is.

"Issues of racism still exist," said Della Graham, calmly. "There's still discrimination against women taking certain jobs. There's still issues of African-American men and women (being) denied positions."

Graham is playing the lead role of Younger family matriarch Lena in The Actors' Group's production of "A Raisin in the Sun," opening today at the Yellow Brick Studio. And she was confident the play would still be able to move and surprise audiences familiar or new to it.

"Hawai'i really needs to have an eye opener," said Graham. "A lot of people still believe there's no such thing as racism because there's so many races here, but they're totally delusional."

Graham often surprised herself while preparing to play Lena.

"I'm still having my eyes opened doing research for the mood of my role because some of us are so sheltered about what was really going on back then. I had to go back and start digging into videos again going, 'Oh, yeah, there it is!' or remember (a) father crying because he was being denied a job or demoted in the military."

Hansberry's play was revolutionary, primarily for serving turn-of-the-1960s audiences notice of the mostly unseen day-to-day struggles of a great number of black Americans. A story line that actually mirrored the experience of any family fighting not only for its survival, but for its future, also struck a chord with audiences.

Set in the impoverished tenements of Chicago's South Side in the 1950s, the play opens as the Younger family anxiously awaits delivery of a $10,000 life insurance check made out to Lena. Upset at the thought of any amount replacing her deceased husband, Lena wants to use the cash to buy a larger home for the family in Clybourne Park, a white suburb. Her frustrated son Walter Lee, desperate to leave his chauffeur job and be his own boss, wants to open a liquor store with some partners. Lena's daughter Beneatha, who dreams of becoming a doctor, wants the money for her education.

The story that unfolds follows the characters' experiences — some humorous, some painful — as they each attempt to move beyond their limited surroundings. In between, Hansberry's play touches on then-controversial subjects such as racism, identity, assimilation, oppression, abortion and feminism.

"A lot of the issues that were brought up then are still very prevalent today," said Graham. "There are still areas that are not very comfortable receiving blacks. There are still areas we check out as to how many blacks are there.

"Even here, when you move, you look around to see if there's a brother and sister, or somebody. And when you see another African-American, it's like (breathes a sigh of relief) because you're not quite sure how people perceive you."

What "Raisin" ultimately reveals itself to be about, however, is the motivating power of dreams, and the power of the family.

"The title 'A Raisin in the Sun' (means) 'a dream deferred,' " said Trevor Graham, who plays Walter Lee and also is Della's real-life son. "Different people within the family have their own vision about how things should be, and what it means to be free. A lot of lines are crossed. A lot of arguments happen. But the family eventually pulls together."

And — no disrespect to the revival's Tony Award wins or P. Diddy involvement — Della Graham said "Raisin" likely succeeded again last year for far more relevant reasons.

"I think it went back on Broadway because it's something that's not finished, that still has a message that people aren't getting," she said. "Something where somebody will always look and say, 'You know what? That needs to be sounded again. That still needs to be heard.' "

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.

Real-life bond affects 'Raisin' production

Daryl Emanuel is George Murchison and Lillian Jones is Beneatha Younger in The Actors' Group performance of "A Raisin in the Sun."

They'd probably appreciate you knowing, however, that their actual relationship bears little resemblance to the characters they're portraying. That is, except for the obvious love the tempestuous Walter Lee has for his strong-willed mother Lena, and vice versa.

"Mama and I sit down and communicate civilly," said Trevor, 35, referencing a character trait not always shared by their on-stage alter egos. "There are times when emotional moments from growing up resurface and we've definitely had raised voices. But for the most part, we can just rap with each other and talk over things."

Agreed Della, "Like the characters, Trevor has that respect for me that Walter shows for his mother. He's not gonna overstep even when he's angry. ... He's not gonna hit me. He's not gonna curse me, which is very much like Walter.

"Trevor is a lot stronger than Walter, though."

"Thanks, Mom," said Trevor, shyly, before they both shared a laugh.

Della and Trevor auditioned for "Raisin" on the same late October evening after hearing about the production from a mutual friend.

"I hadn't really made up my mind to audition until my son called me. He was so excited about it, I just said OK," said Della, 56, who had been in community theater productions while living on the Mainland, but never in Honolulu.

Although Trevor's thespian experience was limited to a single role in a high school play — "I was a doorbell. ... My only line was 'Ding dong,' " he said, laughing — he had always wanted to share a stage with his mom.

"I grew up watching mom in plays and doing little skits for us at home," said Trevor. "So the way this all came together got me excited. I was, like, I'm just gonna audition and if I get it then it was meant to be."

"There's a definite impact on the production," said "Raisin" director Brad Powell, of the mother-and-son duo. "They know each other so well that you can just see it on stage. They work each other. They play off each other. It's wonderful to watch."

And along with the rest of "Raisin's" hard-working cast, they've been arriving at rehearsals straight from day jobs — Della is a registered nurse, Trevor works in a behavioral health facility — for up to six nights a week since early November.

"The positive part of all this is I get to spend more time with my son. And I'm beginning to see a depth in him, and I'm extremely proud of his abilities," said Della.

Trevor is looking forward to someday showing his sons — now ages 2 and 3 — a tape of Dad and Grandma acting on stage together.

"Thinking way ahead, that's something I'll have for their future," said Trevor. "I'm more excited about that than anything really."

'Raisin' facts

• The title "A Raisin in the Sun" was taken from a line in Langston Hughes' 1951 poem "Harlem": "What happens to a dream deferred?/Does it dry up/Like a raisin in the sun/Or does it explode?"
• Written by Chicago playwright Lorraine Hansberry, partially from recollections from her youth. Hansberry's family was one of the first in segregated 1940s Chicago to move into a white neighborhood. When neighbors threatened violence and legal action, Hansberry's real-estate broker father successfully took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Hansberry died of cancer in January 1965 at age 35, six years after "Raisin's" Broadway debut.
• Opened on Broadway in March 1959. Starring Sidney Poitier (Walter Lee Younger), Claudia McNeil (Lena Younger) and Ruby Dee (Ruth Younger), it ran for two years. The play was the first drama by a black woman produced on Broadway, and one of the first credited with realistically portraying facets of the black experience.
• Won the 1959 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for best play of the year. Hansberry was the first black and, at age 29, youngest writer to win the award.
• A filmed version of the play was released in 1961 with much of the Broadway cast returning in lead roles.
• A musical version, titled "Raisin," won a Tony Award for best musical in 1973 and ran on Broadway for three years. It was revived briefly in 1981.
• A 1989 "A Raisin in the Sun" television production starred Esther Rolle as Lena and Danny Glover as Walter Lee.
• A $2.6 million revival of the play bowed to a limited three-month Broadway run last April. It won praise and Tony Awards for performances by Phylicia Rashad (Lena) and Audra McDonald (Ruth) in lead roles, but courted controversy with the casting of hip-hop mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs as Walter Lee. Attendance remained strong throughout its run.