Unity celebrates women’s history with Having Our Say
By Kenya Vaughn
Of the St. Louis American
“I had seen the piece some years ago and wasn’t particularly impressed with it,” said Ralph Greene, artistic director of the Unity Theatre Ensemble, about Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 years.
“But I decided to read it, and when I did I laughed, I cried and fell in love with it – mainly because of its richness.”
Unity will be presenting the play starting today (Thursday) through Sunday at the Regional Arts Commission Studio. And while this play’s performance dates weren’t pitched as being part of any Women’s History Month (March) celebration, attending the production might be a good way to pay tribute.
Having Our Say tells the true story of the Delany Sisters, two African-American women who were fathered by a former slave, went on to attend college and witnessed the slow but steady advance of civil rights in America. In the mid 1990’s – by that time the sisters had each lived more than 100 years – a reporter for The New York Times sat down with them to record their story.
The play uses Bessie and Sadie Delany’s own words to recount a century in which change was the constant theme for the blacks. They see the rise and fall of Jim Crow, the Great Depression and witness first-hand the evolution of a race of people while establishing themselves as pioneering African-American professional women along the way.
“We were just inspired by it and thought that it would be an excellent piece for your people, said Greene. “The play shows how it is possible to overcome odds and do anything you really desire to with hard work.”
Greene serves as director for Having Our Say, while local performers and Unity Theatre Ensemble veterans Thomasina Clarke and Mardra Thomas star as the Delany sisters. “We’ve worked with Mardra and Thomasina so long that we just knew who was Sadie and who was Bessie,” Greene said.
“They love them (the characters),” said Greene. The last time Thomas and Clarke were seen on stage together was in Unity’s adaptation of the Terry McMillan novel Mama.
“It is a delightful match seeing them hobble around and the joy that they bring to the experience, because they love the roles and they love each other, ” Greene said.
Although Greene and his cast have enjoyed staging Unity’s most recent production, he was willing to admit that merely maintaining an existence has been no walk in the park for the company in recent years.
“The biggest challenge for us has been survival,” Greene said. “Every since 23rd Street Theatre closed, we’ve been two shows or less a year,” Greene said. “For the past couple of years we’ve only been doing one show per season.”
“It’s difficult to be transient and continue to keep your audience base and still do good work,” Said Greene.
But even with the obstacles behind the scenes, Greene assures audiences that their latest production is worthwhile.
“We want everyone to come out and see it,” Greene said. “I would love it if we could fill the house of each performance and to be able to extend the run.”
Unity Theatre Ensemble’s production of Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 years will take place Thursday, March 8 – Sunday, March 11 at the Regional Arts Commission Studio (6128 Delmar). Tickets can be purchased through Metrotix at (314) 534-1111 or Afroworld at (314) 389-5194.