What happens when a monarch considers himself king of his realm with all the rights and privilegesof his domain. He commands and controls all those in his immediate country, issuing what he needs done, everything in his purview, everyone bowing to his needs and wants. This dictator rules the roost and no one questions his authority. Disobedience is forbidded and severely punished. How impossible would it be to survive under this reign of terror? Would you simply obey or would you eventually rebel? What if this man were your father and you were terrified to question his authority?
Let the Yale Repertory Theatre introduce you to the titular hero of Steve Carter’s play set in 1927, “Eden,” in the San Juan Hill section of Manhattan where Mr. Joseph Barton, a steel shouldered Russell G. Jones, rules his family with an iron fist, brooking no dissent, allowing no deviation from his control. Joseph’s wife Florie, Christina Acosta Robinson, and their four children Agnes, Alicia Pilgrim, Annetta, Lauren F, Walker, Nimrod, Juice Machines and Solomon, Prentiss Patrick-Carter, obey their patriarch without question and have been doing so since birth. Joseph is a proud Black Carribbean from the islands who considers American Blacks inferior and beneath him. The father is the supreme head of the family and all must accept his rules and obey his authority. When a neighbor Eustace, Chandra Hall-Broomfield, has the gall to shower affection on his daughter Annetta, Jospeh explodes with anger. Only Eustace’s Aunt Lizzie, Heather Alicia Simms, has the gumption to encourage him to seize his dreams.
Joseph is a believer in the philosophy of Marcus Garvey, a Back to Africa advocate who considered Black Americans inferior racially to Blacks from the West Indians. Therefore, Eustace was unsuitable for Annetta. Annetta wants love and freedom and rebels causing a rift in the family solidarity that causes the members to choose sides. Can Joseph hold tight to the reins or will he lose control forever? Will the next generation win the battle? Brandon J. Dirden directs this powerful family drama with a firm hand.
For tickets ($15-65), call the Yale Rep, 1120 Chapel Street, New Haven at 203-432-1234 or online at www.yalerep.org. Performances are Tuesday-Saturday at 2 pm and Saturday at 2 pm.
Will Joseph carry out his threat to kill Eustace if he comes near Annetta? Will Eustace seize her love even if his life is at risk? Will Florie have the courage to defy her husband for the first time and defend her daughter so she will have the love she never had herself?
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