I had forgotten how many things happened in 1968. Palmer Park, set in an integrated neighbourhood in Detroit, is a play that is more like a history lesson. The music, the clothes, the assassinations of Martin Luther Kng, Robert Kennedy - it all came back. If all history were presented this well, we'd all be history students. As a play however, it is very weak - it lacks plot or any kind of dramatic arc; the story is carried forward as a series of lectures by various members of the cast interspersed with some great scenes. The baseball season was a great interlude.
The cast is excellent - I am becoming a fan of Dan Chameroy, whom I had previously seen as a musical comedy specialist, and I always like Kelly Fox. Nigel Shawn WIlliams delivered his usual strong performance - in fact there wasn't a weak performance in the play.
Yes, there is a brief play in the middle of the lecture when there is some action and character development.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, a waste of a strong cast.