Craig (Craig Wallace) has found his feet in this week’s episode, “Community,” by Agyeiwaa Asante. He’s been able to run 2.23 miles to honor Ahmaud Arbery, and now he can’t stop running. And, while he’s pounding the pavement in a very purple t-shirt (Prince, always close to his heart), Chinna, his glorious niece, is pounding the pavement in downtown DC while carry a sign: “A system cannot fail those it was never designed to protect.” She has gone all in on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and the national protest for racial justice/against police brutality.
Craig is worried about her safety. The cause is noble, but is it too little to late? And, the coronavirus is still a force. She needles him about his health, and now she’s planted herself in the middle of a crowd during a pandemic. It makes no sense to him.
It is Helen (Helen Hedman) who talks Craig down from his worries. Helen, from Little Farm Stand—a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) that Chinna volunteers with—happens to call just as he’s trying to get an update on Chinna’s whereabouts. She wants to convince him to join the CSA, but the conversation veers in another direction.
Helen is an incredibly kind optimist. An upbeat, older women who’s happy to see her grandson take up the mantle she once carried as a former protester herself.
“I think things are different now,” Helen tells Craig.
“Are they?” Craig asks. “It took a worldwide pandemic to get people to look up. I’ve seen this time and time again.”
Of course, Wallace is on point, and Hedman’s optimist is a nice foil to his cynicism.
Helen and Craig represent very different ends of the spectrum of the community fighting for racial justice. They also have very different perspectives on what can be done and how that can make a difference. Granted, they ultimately want they same thing, so this isn’t the same as a cold caller who does not support BLM. What this episode does so well through Helen and Craig’s discussion, and with such great nuance, is showcase that this movement—that this national protest—encompasses a community that crosses generations, crosses color, crosses ideas and actions, and crosses life experience. Maybe like never before in history.
Even people in Europe have been protesting in solidarity with Americans for George Floyd and for Breonna Taylor (both of whom were murdered by police and to whom this week’s episode is dedicated, along with Oluwatoyin “Toyin” Salau).
“Community” also wins on small details that speak loudly—like Craig’s aforementioned purple t-shirt. Craig later sports a gray t-shirt with “Native Son by Richard Wright” on it. Native Son is the 1940 groundbreaking novel about African-American Bigger Thomas who kills a white woman. The book is well worth a read for anyone wanting to explore racism in America through literature. Also, the sound of overhead aircraft as Craig sits on his porch, causing him to look up, quizzical—nice touch.
For anyone living in DC, this would be strange on a normal day; during a pandemic when air travel has all but stopped? Positively ominous.
The weaving of the pandemic with the protest is slight but spot-on perfect, and though these episodes are being written almost in tandem with real life, I can’t help but feel like this weaving is foreshadowing some big clash of the pandemic and protest. Also, about that sound of the aircraft at the end of this episode: will Chinna be okay? With only two episodes left (really??), what is the climax? The grand finale? The end game—a phrase that feels strange to say since the pandemic appears to not be subsiding and the fight for racial justice and equality has truly only begun. How will Craig and Maboud find themselves, and their lives, changed by these past three months? Will Maboud really move to Minnesota or stay and be with Lynette? Will Craig take a leap and leave his job, moved by Chinna to change the world, starting with himself?
The answers will come from the final two playwrights: Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi next week, and, wrapping up the series, Caleen Sinnette Jennings.
Round House Theatre’s Homebound is an original webseries that explores life under Stay-at-Home orders in the Nation’s Capital. “Community” was written by Agyeiwaa Asante. Directed by Nicole A. Watson. Featuring Helen Hedman and Round House Theatre Resident Artist Craig Wallace. Costume Design by Ivania Stack. Produced by Ryan Rilette and Ed Zakreski. Post Production Courtesy of Digital Cave. Edited by Joshua Land. Original Music Courtesy of The Curious Music Company. Sound Design & Audio Post Production by Matthew Nielson. Lighting Design by Harold Burgess. Reviewed by Kelly McCorkendale.
The 10 episode Homebound series is produced as a benefit for Round House Theatre’s Resilience Fund.
View the entire series here.