The third chapter in History Theatre's continued story about historical racism in Minnesota, specifically in real estate, is now on stage. Back in their 2021-2022 season, they presented two plays that were originally intended to run in rep pre-covid, but had to be adapted post.
Not in Our Neighborhood was set in the '20s and told the story of a successful Black couple who moved out of their Rondo neighborhood into the all-White neighborhood of Groveland Park, and the racism they faced.
Not for Sale took place about 40 years later, and centered on a White couple, a real estate agent who lost everything because he sold houses to people of color in St. Paul neighborhoods where there was an unwritten (and sometimes written) rule not to.
Behind the Sun continues this story, jumping across the river into Minneapolis, and back to the mid '50s. Another true story of a Black family who moved into an all-White neighborhood (using a bit of clever subterfuge), and the racism they encountered before being accepted into the increasingly diverse neighborhood. It's an important story to tell, important history to remember. Especially now with an impending election that will decide if we move forward into a more just world, or return to these ugly times. See
Behind the Sun at History Theatre now through October 13.
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the Kippers and the Kaplans hatch a plan
(Charla Marie Bailey, Darius Dotch, Jane Froiland,
and Scott Witebsky, photo by Rick Spaulding) |
Stanely Kipper worked with playwright Laura Drake to write the true story of his family. As a boy in the '50s, he lived in a Minneapolis neighborhood with his parents and older brother (the two boys consolidated into one for this play) that was becoming increasingly unsafe. His father Obie, a postal worker, wanted to move to a different, safer, neighborhood, but his mother Mary, a schoolteacher, was concerned because it was a White neighborhood and Obie had a dangerous plan. Since real estate agents wouldn't sell houses in this neighborhood to Black families, Obie's army buddy Abe (who, being Jewish, was also discriminated against in similar ways) and his wife Angela would pose as the Kippers to put the deal in place, with the real Kippers signing the paperwork and submitting the downpayment. The women were hesitant, but when circumstances became dire, they went through with it. But all was not smooth sailing from there, as they had angry neighbors to deal with. That gets resolved fairly quickly in this play that is at times pedantic, moving quickly from one big issue to the next. In one scene we see the violence directed at them, and the very next scene shows them comfortable and happy. But overall it's an engaging and important story.
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toasting to their success (Charla Marie Bailey, Darius Dotch,
Scott Witebsky, and Jane Froiland, photo by Rick Spaulding) |
History Theatre's Artistic Director Richard D. Thompson directs the talented six-person cast. Charla Marie Bailey and Darius Dotch are both great as Mary and Obie Kipper, with the warm chemistry of a married couple. Along with the precocious young Joshaviah Kawala, they make a believable family. Scott Witebsky brings some levity to the play in his portrayal of the amiable Abe, and Jane Froiland is strong as his very Minnesotan wife. Rounding out the cast is James Ramlet as the realtor, almost charming if not for the blatant racism.
In a play about houses, the set plays a big role. Scenic designer Rick Polenek uses a turntable to neatly transition between the homey but somewhat run-down house of the first act to the newer, bigger, nicer home of the second. Characters are dressed in modest '50s era costumes, designed by Meghan Kent.
