Speaking after the spring 1997 Steppenwolf opening of the celebratory Nikki Giovanni: A New Song for a New Day, Giovanni articulated her intense love for the Black community and the challenges they faced. Tupac Shakur had been recently assassinated, and with trembling emotion, she unveiled the tattoo she had gotten in his honor. Eventually, the scattered white audience members began to shuffle, nervously, in their seats, unused to an artist whose focus was so determinedly not on them.
Further exploring this focus, Fleetwood-Jourdain’s world premiere of The Baldwin/Giovanni Experience articulates, in a movingly poetic fashion, Giovanni’s intense analysis of the Black experience. A creative reinterpretation of a 1971 conversation between the acclaimed writer, teacher and recording artist and the legendary James Baldwin, this labor of love from creators Tim and Bria Walker-Rhoze joyfully presents the deepest thoughts of each of these queer cultural icons.
The set here, consisting of two chairs and a small table, harkens back to the real-life episode of the PBS show that involved these culturally significant talents. The featured backdrops, though, are beautiful murals of expressiveness, matching the energy and vital tempos of Rachel Blakes and Sean Blake, who play Giovanni and Baldwin.
In contrast to this spring’s Debate: Baldwin Vs. Buckley, the Timeline production that echoed Baldwin’s words directly, this production is more free-flowing in its imagining. This allows these performers to fully cultivate the essence of the real life figures that they portray. Thus, Blake truly catches the effete, studied glow of Baldwin. Blakes, meanwhile, brings a reverential yet determined essence to Giovanni.
The two also, energetically, emphasize the playwrights’ recreated rhyme schemes here. Both alternative between the conversational, musical and more rap oriented approaches to the material with ease and vigor. Blake’s choreography adds a unique perspective to the points addressed, as well.
Disappointedly, as this special was originally broadcast in the early ‘70s, little of Giovanni’s Sapphic nature is explored here. The longtime wife of Professor Virginia C. Fowler does tackle the treatment of women and explores some harsh examples of the patriarchy with determined fervor here, though.
One also hopes that in future iterations, that the Rhozes will incorporate skilled jazz singer Mardra Thomas into the production itself. Currently, Thomas, accompanied by the talented Isaiah Jones, Jr., performs a few numbers before the show itself begins. Having her present throughout would be a wonderful addition and would help break up the poem-like nature of the show’s dialogue a bit.
Overall, though, this is an amazing opportunity to watch two deceased literary marvels brought to scintillating life, if only for a brief and joyful moment in time.
The Baldwin/Giovanni Experience runs through November 16th at the Noyes Cultural Center in Evanston. Further Information is available at www.fjtheatre.com.