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If you’ve got the blues — the dirty, rotten Delta blues — you might want to head to downtown Bangor.
“Spunk,” by George C. Wolfe, is running now through March 7 at the Penobscot Theatre in Bangor. The play consists of three 1920s-era vignettes by Harlem Renaissance writer Zora Neale Hurston, accompanied by music by Chic Street Man.
For the theater’s artistic director Scott R.C. Levy, the play is about celebrating black culture in one of the whitest parts of the state. For actors Eric Lockley and Jonathan McCrory, the play is a chance to develop their skills as they attempt to play multiple characters.
“I’ve been here for five seasons now, and since I’ve been here I’ve had a really strong desire to do a piece that really explores the African-American experience,” Levy said.
Levy first saw the play in the early ’90s in Connecticut, and said the message has stayed with him. According to Levy, the play is a celebration of Hurston’s work above all. Her role as an anthropologist helped her accurately capture the vernacular of black culture during the 1920s.
“It’s a very clear and specific slice of life — a very specific group of people,” Levy said. “Some of the specific themes involve domestic abuse, greed and jealousy, and some of these very universal themes come out in [Hurston’s] work.”
The play, directed by Donya K. Washington, was cast via national auditions. All of the actors are professionals, currently based in New York City, according to Levy. While the Penobscot Theatre operates as a mix between local and national talent, Levy said they were forced to look elsewhere for black actors.
Both Lockley and McCrory had previous experience with Hurston’s work. The idea of traveling also drew them both to become involved with the production.
“It’s exciting to have this opportunity to work in Maine, where I’ve never been, and work on Zora Neale Hurston’s work, which is very deeply rooted in our culture,” Lockley said.
“Even walking throughout the cities, we’ve been embraced by Maine and by Bangor to actually feel like this is a little bit of a home to us,” McCrory said.
Both actors said the most challenging and rewarding part of the play has been their chance to play multiple characters. Instead of focusing on one role, the actors can explore where each person is coming from.
Lockley said he has enjoyed playing an abusive husband because it is so far from his real personality. He said he also gets to play a pimp and take his clothes off on stage.
“It’s fun to have the opportunity to showcase a part of your humanity that you don’t typically access from day-to-day,” Lockley said. “That’s why I’m an actor.”
McCrory said he enjoyed working with the music as well, which is deeply tied to the story of the play. Guitar Man — played by Portland musician Samuel James — and Blues Speak Woman underscore the whole play with era-appropriate tunes. Their music ties the three separate stories together.
“Music lives so deeply inside of the rhythm of [the play] and inside the creation of it,” McCrory said. “One could not live without the other, especially with this play.”
The cast will be holding a meet and greet in the Multi-Cultural Center in Hannibal Hamlin Hall on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.
The Penobscot Theatre presents between seven and eight mainstage productions each year, along with a two-week festival. They are a nonprofit organization funded through ticket sales and contributions such as grants and foundations.
The theater received $20,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts and $15,000 from the Maine Arts Commission and Bangor’s Cultural Commission for this production, according to Levy.
“Spunk” runs through March 7. Student rush tickets are available at the box office for $10 one hour before show time with a valid student ID.
Bangor Daily News