The premier of Zora Neale Hurston's play, Polk County, at the Arena Stage in Washington D. Zora Neale Hurston was an excellent writer African-American literature and a playwright. She was born in Eatonville, Florida, an all black town. Growing up, Zora Neale Hurston experienced separate but equal politics of Eatonville. This experience deeply affected her outlook on racial issues. Her writings had a huge influence in the Harlem Renaissance.
This dramatic play is appropriate for all ages, but I would suggest it for the more mature person because of some situations, including some minor violence and some adult situations that the younger audience might not understand. There was nothing inappropriate for viewing, just a little above the younger audience.
Polk County professionally premiered on the 29th of March in the Arena Stage. The play was directed by Kyle Donnelly, and the 37 musical pieces within the play are directed by Stephen Wade, of the long-running show "Banjo Dancing." Cathy Madison, who helped adapt and edit the script for Arena Stage. Madison said she and Donnelly did minor, cosmetic editing to help the play flow better -- and to keep it from becoming an epic event. (TheLedger.com).
The main actors included Clinton Derricks-Carroll (My Honey) who has been in the television program "Sliders", Harriett D. Foy (Big Sweet) who has been in "Law and Order", and "One Life to Live", Perri Gaffney who has done many commercials and promotions of TV and radio, Gin Hammond (Leafy Lee) is making her debut to the Arena Stage, and last but not least David Toney as Lonnie who has been in Fox's "In Living Color", and New Line Cinema's "House Party III.".
Personally I think that the acting was good, there were a couple of spots where I could tell that the actors made a mistake and corrected themselves. But not once did any actor ever come out of character. Even when the were off to the side, or out of most everyone's sight, they were always in the play and a very real part of it.
