by Michael Buzzelli
In Chicago in 1927, the Mother of the Blues, Gretrude “Ma” Pridgett Rainey (WIlla Catherine “Katy” Cotten), enters a cramped music studio with her band to cut an album that includes her biggest hits, including “Moonshine Blues” and the titular “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” in August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Wilson’s play, one of the few American Century Cycle plays NOT set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, is historical fiction at its best, weaving real-life figures alongside fictional ones.
The play splits its focus between May Rainey upstairs with management, her girlfriend Dussie Mae (Bianca Dixon), and her nephew Sylvester (Matt Southers, Jr.), where she is demanding respect from her agent, Irvin (Chris Olshefski) and the producer, Sturdyvant (John Gresh); and Culter (Charles Timbers) and the band downstairs where Levee (Dionysius Akeem), a volatile young man with lofty aspirations, wants to have his own band, sing his own music, and take Ma’s girl, Dussie Mae.
Ma and Levee run parallel to one another. Ma has achieved glory as Levee strives for it. His story, however, takes a darker path (if you’ve seen the 2020 adaptation filmed here in Pittsburgh, you know how bleak his road becomes).
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is filled with colorful characters, expertly acted by an impeccable cast directed by a scion of Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, Ashley Southers (daughter of Mark Clayton Southers, founder of the company).
The band mates are known by their nicknames, such as Toledo (David Minniefield) and Slow Drag (Rich Dickson).
Side note: On some nights Sylvester is played by Emir Hardy, and Dussie Mae is played by Tajionna Clinton.
Cotten is bigger than life, as she should be, playing Ma Rainey. She has the swagger and the gravitas to carry the demanding role.
Levee is a young man brimming with testosterone and rage, and Akeem is phenomenal in the role. His anger is visceral.
Toledo is the quiet, intellectual pianist, who riles Levee. Toledo is expertly played by Minniefield.
Irvin vacillates between bouts of nervous energy, and waves of controlled confidence. Olshefski does a great job.
The set is designed by Mark Clayton Southers is cleverly split from upstairs to downstairs. The only demarcation is a line of paint, a muted yellowy brown divided by a deep cement-colored gray.
Cheryl El Walker’s costumes give off that flapper vibe of the roaring 20s.
If you want to complete the American Cycle, you have a chance to catch three plays in Pittsburgh this month.
-MB
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” runs until August 24 at the Madison Arts Cabaret Space, Madison Arts, 3401 Milwaukee Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. For more information, click here.
