It is April 1935 in the dust storm-riddled plains of Texas and a family farm is struggling to keep afloat amidst a mounting series of environmental disasters. Stubborn Pa refuses to believe that his land is no longer viable, young Sunny dreams of a new life in bountiful California, and Ma starts having mysterious visions of an even bleaker future. Developed through TimeLine's Playwrights Collective, this world premiere by Dolores Díaz offers a startling look at the conflicts surrounding climate change, race, and gender in the days leading up to an infamous dust storm known as Black Sunday.
"...The narrative of "Black Sunday" actually turns out to be strangely hard to follow, in this production at least, and director Helen Young's production never fully gels when it comes to creating deep relationships between the four characters: Pa, Ma (Mechelle Moe), their restless daughter Sunny (Angela Morris), a farm worker named Jesus (Christopher Alvarenga) and Jim (Vic Kuligoski), a preacher."
"...TimeLine Theatre’s final production in its East Lake View home of 25 years (the award-winning company expects to make its long-planned move to more spacious digs in Uptown by the start of next season) unfolds in early April 1935. Díaz sets her 90-minute drama deep in the heart of the Dust Bowl. On a small Texas farm devastated by drought, locusts and over-farming, “Black Sunday” explores two intertwined issues blazing with contemporary relevance: Climate change and immigration policy."
"...This play, developed as part of the Timeline ” Playwright’s Collective”, is a spell-binding 90 minutes of theater. It will take you back in history to a time that most of us didn’t realize existed in our country. Let’s face it, this was almost 100 years ago, a different time, a different world? Or was it? This production will certainly give you something to think about."
"...Skillfully and passionately directed by Helen Young, whose excellent productions of TimeLine’s THE CHINESE LADY and WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME dazzled audiences and critics alike, does a great job guiding this cast. The company of actors is first-rate. Prolific actress and director, not only with TimeLine but all over Chicago, Mechelle Moe is the star of this production. As Ma, Ms. Moe dominates the stage with her peppery and poignant performance. She certainly embodies a Depression Era Cassandra with her wild, wandering prophecies and plaintive cries."
*The designation of "Jeff Recommended" is given to a production when at least ONE ELEMENT of the show was deemed outstanding by the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee.