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"SEASON'S REASONS"

"SEASON'S REASONS" image "SEASON'S REASONS" image
Parent Issue
Day
5
Month
November
Year
1975
OCR Text

Just A Natural Change. The Spirit of Shango Theatre Company in the World Premier of Ron Milner's new musical at the Langston Hughes Theatre, Directed by Ron Milner.  Music by Charles Mason, Choreography by Penny Godboldo.  Opened October 15th.

     Detroit's Ron Milner, for this observer the most exciting playwright working in theatre today, has turned his dramatic genius to the creation, with Musical Director Charles Mason, of an a capella black musical, Season's Reasons, which has just made its World Premier at the new Langston Hughes Theatre.  Basically the story of a young black militant of the 60's who has escaped from prison to return to the streets of 1975 and the drastically different political climate at hand, Season's Reasons dramatically examines the changes in consciousness and activity which have altered the course of life in the black communities of America.  That it makes this examination through song--for Season's Reasons is first of all a musical in the grand tradition -- speaks even more eloquently of Milner's theatrical talent and his ability to integrate the elements of his art with the life of the streets.

     Unlike pop musicals Season's Reasons brings into focus and attempts to deal realistically with questions of everyday life for black people -- and anyone with any sense -- in the U.S. of A.  Thus it not only makes for exciting theatre, thrilling far beyond the scope of fantasy or cynical decadence, but it also helps restore drama to its rightful place as a function of real life.

     The first act of Season's Reasons, as a result, carries an impact which is impossible to effect through the usual theatrical artifice; one is left not only with a powerful dramatic experience, but with powerful thoughts and feelings which relate directly to the most urgent questions of life.

     There are a hundred things I would like to say about Season's Reasons, but space limitations keep me from mentioning more than the all-around excellence and the incredible spirit of the cast; the stunning musical and dramatic quality of Charles Mason's compositions; the suitability of the Langston Hughes Theatre as the setting for the play; and the courage and brilliance of Milner's conception of both the content and the form of this play.

     If the second act seems somewhat anti-climactic (and work is still being done on it from performance to performance, to whip it into final shape while it's still playing at the Hughes), it's only because the first act would be hard to follow with John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Billie Hol-

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"Season's Reasons"

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liday, and because the dramatic possibilities of "working within the system" to effect mass social change (the resolution proposed in Act II) are less sensational than the politics of confrontation demanded by R.B., "the man of the 60's," in the first act.  But you must see this play to believe it, and when you do, you will.  Season's Reasons: Just a Natural Change will play at the Hughes Theatre through November, Thursdays through Sundays at 8:00 p.m.

                -- John Sinclair