Review by Neal Newman
September 22, 2024
The New York Times for today, September 23, 2024, features a significant article calling Amanda Jones, a middle school librarian in Louisiana, a “superhero.” She has written a best-selling book detailing her adamant refusal to ban books that local politicians claim do not properly reflect their communities. Times being what they are, Ms. Jones has been called a “pornographer,” among other evils. Suddenly, a play by Kenneth Jones, written in 2014 and set in 1959, has become relevant in ways the author could not expect. Nevertheless, he found the problem’s roots in 1959, as the ghosts of our repressive past still haunt us. ALABAMA STORY is currently playing at Old Academy Players in East Falls. There is even a moment when the racist senator mocks the Northern librarian for being unmarried and childless.
Based on a true story, the play depicts the saga of THE RABBIT’S WEDDING, a children’s book in which a black bunny falls in love with a white bunny, culminating in a joyful forest celebration. The senator immediately views the book as harmful to the citizens of Montgomery, who will, of course, be incensed by the book’s clever propaganda against the long-held, sacred laws of segregation. Jones’s play wants to be funny, dramatic, and sentimental, a mixture that, in this production, is not completely successful.
The brightest moments go to Mort Paterson, the senator. Tall, blessed with a glorious voice that caresses the southern accent, he is totally believable as an octogenarian multi-term politician who lives in another era and cannot recognize the changes on the way. As he says, “I’m never wrong and never apologize. Since I’m never wrong, I don’t need to apologize.” He is a truly formidable antagonist and symbol of the old South. He is also strangely touching in his love of books, especially TOM SAWYER.
Another bullseye comes from Douglas Tague, who plays Garth Williams, the author/illustrator of the book. Jones has crafted a skilled comic monologue from Williams’ interviews, opening the second act. Tague could be an excellent stand-up comic as he gleefully recounts that a white rabbit bears no relation to a white racist human and that since the illustrations were in black and white, it only made sense to have one of the bunnies be black to create charming pictures.
Lorraine Barrett, as the librarian, is a skilled actor. However, she tends to over-embrace the author’s tendency toward sentimentality. As a result, the performer spends much of Act One surprised over the senator’s accusations and then spends Acto Two complaining that she is very acquainted with Southern customs. Certainly, the play is a valentine to the beloved value of libraries, but this production loses dramatic impact.
Renee Theis’ lighting design creates a terrific thunderstorm, while Helen Krauss’s costumes make a nice gesture to the late 50s in the women’s dresses, though the men wear modern suits.
The set design by Sarah Swearer and the direction of Carla Childs are problematic. The stage is filled with a large, locked gate. This gate is essential to the history of Montgomery, Alabama, because the city fathers famously padlocked this public park rather than bowing to integration. It Is not essential to the play. While this gate serves as an excellent reminder of the 50s South, it takes up so much space that there is little room for any other setting. Admittedly, the stage is small, but different directors have managed to ground-plan their Old Academy plays with depth and imagination. Director Childs has directed what is essentially a radio play or an audiobook. The actors stand still as if their feet are nailed to the floor and must only use their voices to communicate the characters and their relationships. This is especially true in the dramatic scene of a picnic of twelve-year-olds, the girl a wealthy resident of the “big house,” and the boy a black hired hand. Their inability to comprehend the current racism as written seems quite powerful. But as staged, crammed into a tight corner, it unfortunately falls flat.
I visit my local public library weekly and greet the friendly staff by name. As such, I recommend the novel THE GIVER OF STARS by JoJo Moyes. It dramatized the PACKHORSE PROJECT of the 1930s when women delivered books on horseback to rural Kentucky cabins. It is inspirational.
RUNNING TIME: 2 hours with intermission
ALABAMA STORY plays through September 29 at Old Academy Players, 3544 Indian Queen Lane. Tickets can be obtained at oldacademyplayers.org or by calling 215-843-1109’