Review - Caravan Theater of Pittsburgh

Lower Ninth gives a rooftop view

by C. Denise Johnson

It’s fitting that the Caravan Theater of Pittsburgh would present a play centered around the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the levee failures on the 10th anniversary of the disaster. So Lower Ninth also recounts a situation similar to the leveling of the lower Hill District. It could be considered art and the life it imitates.

A barebones production--one act, three characters in the intimate confines of the Elsie Hillman Auditorium of the Kaufmann Center adjacent to the Hill House-- Lower Ninth  written in 2007 by Beau Willimon, is laden with metaphors and is full of standout performances.

Jomo Ray and Maurice Redwood (courtesy of John Gresh)

Lower Ninth opens with two men on a roof - the only thing saving them from the churning waters. The elder of the two, Malcolm (Jomo Ray) is reading aloud passages from the Ezekiel about destruction, judgement and new beginnings (another parallel) and EZ (Maurice Redwood) isn’t feeling particularly spiritual. And on the other side of the roof lies the remains of Lowboy (Sam Lothard) who EZ could not save.

Review: Lower Ninth offers view from rooftop

Review: Lower Ninth gives a rooftop view

Maurice Redwood and Sam Lothard

Although the circumstances of their situation gets top billing, the heart of this play is about human frailties and relationships, and director Edwin Lee Gibson pulls out the souls of these particular Black folks in bracing detail. Ray, Redwood and Lothard deliver powerful performances that are steeped in emotion and revelations.

Instead of being a spoiler, I will just say that Lower Ninth sparks deeper reflection of where we’ve been and where we’re headed. I would be remiss to not mention the work of make-up artist and wardrobe magician Cheryl El Walker (on top of her game considering she’s is working another production simultaneously) and kudo to artistic director John Gresh’s production team and lighting designer Terry Jachimiak II for the spectacular detail of the set design.

As this is a very limited run I encourage you to see Lower Ninth before it closes October 4th with a Sunday matinee; that affords you change to make the 8 p.m. performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Lower Ninth at the Elsie Hillman Auditorium of Kaufmann Center of the Hill House Association, 1825 Centre Ave., Hill District. $15-20. 412-392-4400 or www.showclix.com