Review: A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Stagecrafters is an Excellent Portrayal of the American Classic Play!

Stagecrafters' Main Stage is currently presently the American classic, A Raisin in the Sun, until November 18th in Royal Oak. The talented cast performed the timeless play wonderfully and brought the audience fully into the drama of a 1950s Chicago family.

A Raisin in the Sun is by Lorraine Hansberry and it centers on an African-American family in 1950s Chicago, whose matriarch dreams of moving her family from the South Side of Chicago to a better neighborhood, but her son and daughter have other plans. The three generations of the family become entangled in conflict as internal and social pressures threaten their dreams and test the bonds of family.

Rosalind Sample plays the role of Lena (Mama) Younger. Sample is absolutely incredible in portrayal of the matriarch of the family. She is strong, captivating, and fierce. She commands the stage and makes the audience truly feel her plight. Sample is perfectly cast in the role of Mama Younger and an exceptional representative of the talent that Detroit theatre has to offer. Kaela Green plays the role of Beneatha Young. Green is outstanding in the bold role. The character of Beneatha is a wonderful role model for women in any decade and she plays her proudly - giving her the life that encourages woman today to want to be like her. Terri Manning plays the role of Ruth Younger. Manning is unique to watch on stage because it is impossible not to watch her whenever she is present, speaking or not. She has a calming, yet intense presence about her that makes her truly believable on the stage and makes her in the role of Ruth so endearing. The rest of cast includes Bernard Bragg (Bobo), Kyle Bushre (Karl Linder), Samuel Bushre (Travis Younger), Bryan Carstarphen (George Murchinson), Kenneth Hardrick (Moving Man), Matthew Love (Joseph Asagai), Aria Moody (Mrs. Johnson), and Michael Rice (Walter Lee Younger).

A Raisin the Sun is a play that shows the struggle of a family trying to achieve their dreams in the 1950s, but the themes resonate to what everyone faces today. This cast does an amazing job of bringing the story of Younger family to life, letting the audience feel their struggles, hopes, dreams, and triumphs. If given the chance, go support them in their excellent portrayal of this American classic and the important message it shares before A Raisin in the Sun closes.

A Raisin in the Sun is currently running now through November 18th at Stagecrafters' Main Stage in The Baldwin Theater in Royal Oak. For more information or tickets, visit www.stagecrafters.org.

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