[ssba]

1969

Reviewed by Lovell Estell III

Towne Street Theatre at Stella Adler Theatre

Through Nov. 2

An urban American city in the turbulent era of the late 1960s is the backdrop for Barbara White Morgan’s story of racial discord and ruthless ambition. Blacks United is a militant neighborhood organization headed by the charismatic and hardcore Ajamu (Jaimyon Parker), whose goal is improving conditions and racial uplift. Ernest Butler (Kenny Cooper) is an ambitious city hall player and successful businessman who plans to tear down the Blacks United headquarters and build a youth center, a scheme that is certain to cause friction and perhaps bloodshed, as each man is determined to enforce his agenda.

The basics of a good story and good drama are here, but Morgan doesn’t provide adequate, convincing heft to these characters, or to the structure of her plot. Oddly, she saves her most effective, incisive writing for a final scene between Ajamu and Butler’s love-smitten wife Grace (Megan Weaver), at which point we learn of a previous relationship between them.

The performances are good, particularly Lamar Usher as Ajamu’s militant henchmen Lewis. Kim Harrington directs.

Towne Street Theatre at Stella Adler Theater, 6773 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm.; Sun. 4 pm.; through Nov. 2. (213) 712-6944, www.townestreetla.org