Port City Playhouse in Alexandria will present "Stick Fly," Lydia R. Diamond’s wry but affectionate look at the experiences of upper-income African-Americans, from May 1 through May 16. The story centers around the LeVay family — a father, two adult sons with their girlfriends, and the housekeeper’s daughter, who is filling in while her mother is ill — which gathers at their home on Martha’s Vineyard for their annual summer holiday. Personality clashes and revealed secrets make this anything but a relaxing family vacation.
Director Kevin Sockwell wanted to direct "Stick Fly" because it was one of the very first plays he had read where the experience of affluent, educated African Americans was presented. "Most plays with primarily black characters focus on drug use, poverty, and so forth," he said. "The family of this story is similar to my background and I was happy to see the unique problems of black affluence presented in a powerful, somewhat humorous way.
"I want the audience to understand some unique aspects of the African American experience while still being able to relate and appreciate the LeVay family as family, not a black family, but a family," he said.
He wants the audience to realize that one's family is one's family and to embrace it, not resist it. "One can never fully escape what any family experience provides, yet people can be themselves and still thrive in a family," he said. "Equally true, the wishes, desires, aspirations of being in a black family may differ somewhat due to race, but the goals and needs of all families transcend race and are very human to us all."
Chaz Pando plays the role of Harold "Flip" LeVay, the oldest son/brother who is a charming, successful plastic surgeon. "He is well traveled and enjoys the finer things in life," he said. "He is also known to be, as is his father, a womanizer. As they say, 'Like father, like son.'"
He added: "This show is about family and finding yourself, and how some families deal with certain situations, good or bad ... This show will make you laugh, make you cry, and even make you mad, but most importantly, it will make you think. And that is what theater is all about."
Mack Leamon plays the role of Kent (Spoon) LeVay, the younger of the sons. "As the only artist in a family of doctors, he's struggled to find his place, but he's hoping that a recent success will earn him the respect of his father," he said.
He added: "The story at its core is about a family and how families interact with each other .... The challenge (and the fun) is to find ways to make these moments interesting for an audience.
"I hope they laugh with and feel for the characters. I hope they see some of themselves and their own families on the stage."
Fatima Razi plays the only Caucasian-female character named Kimber Davies, a Peace Corps veteran and African American studies scholar. "She has a social status equal to the LeVay family yet privy to white privilege, and on some level, apologetic for it," she said.
What she hopes the audience takes away from the production, is this: "People have a desire to maintain this constant positive image of themselves to society. It is human nature that individuals do not 'showcase' their flaws .... This play teaches us that it is these secrets that can truly harm our familial relationships when honesty and authenticity are cast aside."
Kashayna Johnson plays the role of Cheryl, the daughter of the maid who works for the LeVay family. "She's actually pretty fascinating because she's very bright, self aware, hardworking and unapologetic, yet there's a softer side," she said. "There's a vulnerability — a sense of naivety at the core, and once triggered makes that exterior crumble and fall away."
She said one of the challenges was not getting trapped in the drama of the play and not judging the characters. "Once I understood and accepted that this was the family's 'normal,' it opened up so many possibilities for me as an actor," she said. "I also had more fun and that's when the true essence of this play, and the humor that's clearly written in this piece came out."
She added: "I hope that audiences see themselves and their own families in this play. And it may not necessarily be the same circumstances, but dysfunction is universal, and I believe the one thing that allows people to function in dysfunction, and go on loving and dealing with each other is family."
Port City Playhouse is presenting "Stick Fly" on May 1, 2, 8, 9, 12, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m.; and May 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 and $18. The theater is located at 1819 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria. For tickets, visit www.portcityplayhouse.org.