A RAISIN IN THE SUN  by Carol Kaufman Segal

            A Raisin In the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, is playing at A Noise Within in Pasadena, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. Hansberry was the first African American woman to write a play presented on Broadway.  The year it opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre was 1959.  Hansberry was 29 years old.  It has been performed many times in many theaters throughout the years.  In Director Daniel’s notes, “According to American Theatre magazine, Raisin was one of the 10 most produced plays of the 2017-2018 theatre season.”  Perhaps the relevancy of today’s climate makes it important today, withstanding the fact that it is a well-written play.                       

            A Raisin In the Sun is about the Youngers, a family that includes a widow, Lena Younger (Saundra McClain, referred to as Mama), her young daughter Beneatha (Sarah Hollis), her son Walter Lee (Ben Cain), Walter’s wife Ruth (Toya Turner), and Walter’s and Ruth’s son Travis (Sam Christian).  The Younger family lives in a cramped tenement apartment in an ill-kept building in South Chicago.

            Since the death of her husband, Lena is the matriarch of the family.  Beneatha is a college student who hopes to be able to continue her education to become a doctor.  Walter works as a chauffeur for a wealthy white family and dreams of a better life by owning a business of his own.  Lena has been anticipating a check from her husband’s life insurance policy which she hopes can be used to improve their lifestyle.  When the $10,000 finally arrives, Walter looks upon it as his chance to invest in a business to which Lena does not agree.  She refuses to give Walter the money, and, instead, puts a down payment on a house in Clybourne Park, an all-white neighborhood in South Chicago

            After putting the money down on the house, Lena still has $6500 left that she agrees to put in Walter’s hands with instructions on how he is to handle it for the family and to make sure there is money for Beneatha’s college tuition. But Walter sees this as his chance to invest the money for security and a better life for all of them.  Unfortunately, the money ends up in the hands of a scam artist and he loses it all, leaving Beneatha without money to continue her dream of becoming a doctor, and the rest of the family in shock.  As though the family has not been traumatized enough, Karl Lindner (Bert Emmert), a representative from the  Clybourne Park Welcome Committee, calls on the family, not to welcome them to the neighborhood but to let them know they are not welcome in their community. 

            How the Youngers stand up for their rights in a world of racial intolerance is the crucial point of this magnificent play, performed at A Noise Within by an equally magnificent cast that also includes Amir Abdullah (Joseph Asagal) and Rosney Mauger (Bobo).  This production is of the highest quality by everyone involved in it.  It is one not to be missed. 

            A Raisin In the Sun plays Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM, and Sunday at 2 PM and 7 PM, through April 8, at A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena.  Tickets are available online at anoisewithin.org, or by phone at (626) 356-3121. 

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