Reviewer: Kristine Gotham
Venue: Bay City Players
Opening tonight, Bay City Players presents By The Way, Meet Vera Stark. Gordon Levine is director. Levine, a native of Bay City, returns to his home stage after many years of living in other places including Chicago and South Florida. While he never moved away from acting and directing, Levine is thrilled to be back home. He says that Vera Stark is the most challenging play he has directed. “It’s basically a movie within a play,” he says.
Levine cast Elise Williams in the role of Vera Stark. Williams practically quivers with excitement when talking about the play and her role. She says that Vera has “lots of spunk”. Vera Stark is a “collage” of under recognized and under appreciated black actresses of the 30’s and beyond.
Playwright, Lynn Nottage, is the only female to have won two Pulitzer Prize for her writing.
By The Way, Meet Vera Stark, covers over 70 years in the life of a black woman in America, highlighting the ups and downs of success and how she is seen and perceived.
Bay City Players is located at 1214 Columbus Ave, Bay City. The Box Office can be reached at 989-893-5555. Show times are Fri-Sat (2/3-2/4) at 7:30 pm, Sun (2/5) at 3 pm, Fri-Sat (2/10-2/11) at 7:30 pm and Sun (2/12) at 3 pm.