Regina Taylor's "Crowns" is an adaptation of the eponymous coffee table book written by Michael Cunningham and Craig Murberry. The protagonist of the stage play is a young woman, Yolanda, who experiences a tragedy and goes to live with her grandmother in the South. Through her relocation, she expects to find herself. Throughout the performance, faith and fashion are fused in celebrating the history of hats and the African-American woman.
Cast members Rhonda Chambers, M. J. Etua, Aleshea Harris and Tarra Riggs sat down to discuss working together, spirituality and church hats.
What's it like working with a cast of mostly women?
Aleshea: I really enjoy it. It's a gratifying experience to work with women and other black folks. It's not an opportunity that as an actor I've had very often—to work with only African Americans. There are a lot of things that another African-American woman can understand about me without (my) having to explain. It's an unspoken connection. The art we can create with one another is unlike any other that we can make with a cross-sectioned demographic.
Rhonda: I don't know how to put it in words. We know how women are. How they can be. But to put six of those "black women" in a play, it's been nothing but fun, laughter. It's interesting. We share each others' joys, sorrows, everything from "I'm cramping" to "my husband's getting on my nerves."
M.J.: One of the beauties of the scripts is that each story is so universal. Each character talks about the joys, sorrows and challenges in their lives. Each person (in the cast) can relate to the stories of their characters. So it was easy to bond not only as actors but also as characters. It was also really easy to bond with the script.
Why "Crowns"?
M.J.: Crowns refers to a spiritual sense—a metaphor for a reward in heaven. One of the characters talks about the jewels for the crown symbolizing the journey and the trials along the way in achieving that level of spirituality. It's a beautiful metaphor for the journey. The characters in the show are extremely proud of their journeys so that they can share the journeys with Yolanda, so they can show her how all of their experiences and hers have culminated and made her who she is.
Rhonda: Those who live their lives with a spiritual side to them live so that there's a greater reward. These women had journeys of these hats from African slavery up till now with women and church hats. That's the glory.
Aleshea: Something interesting about "Crowns" is that it's so true to life. I have six aunts, and given the opportunity, they would love to do what the characters in the play do. Sit down and teach me. I would love to do that. Listen to what they have to teach me. Older women really want to instill that beauty in you. It's so relatable for most African-American women who are lucky enough to have other African-American women be role models in their lives. Crowns are the journey.
Why should those who aren't black women see this show?
Aleshea: The theme of community is something that any ethnic group can appreciate. Anybody who has the old heads telling you how things were, you can have an appreciation for that.
Tarra: It's a cast of African Americans explaining the heritage of people. It's not race-related, it's just roots.
M.J.: While the show reflects the African-American woman … there's a lot for other women too. There's a man (in the play) who represents every man. He is a vital part of the show. Many of the women's stories center around the male figure in their lives. The character does a superb job of representing every man and every (aspect of his) character is an individual man. He goes from being a brother, to a father, to a preacher. We're very fortunate to have him as part of the cast and as representation.
A young Yolanda says during the show, "The more I study Africa, the more I see that African Americans do very African things without even knowing it. Adorning the head is one of those things. ... Whether it's the intricate braids or the distinct hairstyle or the beautiful hats we wear on Sundays, we just know inside that we're queens, and these are the crowns we wear."
For ticket information call 601.948.3533. The show ends Sunday.
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