Detroit '67 : Long Beach playhouse

My family and I went to the Long Beach playhouse last night. We watched "Detroit '67" by Dominique Morrissaeu. This play was set during the summer of 1967 in Detroit during a time when The Detroit Police department was terrorizing, beating, and harassing the black community whom were tired of it.

Chelle and Lank are a brother and sister whose parents had passed and had left them their childhood home. Chelle, played by Alisha Elaine Anderson a native of Oakland is beautiful, smart and the logical voice. Lank played by Marc Morris from DC/Maryland is the calm younger brother with dreams of investing what their parents had left left them. Bunny played by Cassandra Carter-Williams, is the comic relief and supportive friend. Then there's Sylvester played by Johnathan D. Wray, best friend of Lank whose an even bigger dreamer then he is. These four are preparing to have a good time while making some extra money when a surprising guest is brought into their world. Caroline, played by Allison Lynn Adams, is a white woman who is brought in after being found beaten. The group offers her help, support and shelter as she saves enough money to catch a bus out of Detroit. 

We went on Friday, which is "half-price preview" and so I'm not sure what would be the difference in last nights performance as compared to the weekends to come, but the play was great!

Long Beach Playhouse makes it easy to purchase tickets in advance. With an email you can walk straight in to your seats. The staff are friendly and although it was a sold out show, it never felt cramp or overwhelming. Even during the fifteen minute intermission, I though with a line that went into the hallway for the bathroom that I'd be gone too long. Everyone moved smoothly, the wait was not that long and there was no need to run or rush back to my seat. 

After coming home I did a little research and was surprised to learn that Dominique Morisseau was not some old time writer from back in the day, but a modern one. Ms. Morisseau wrote this play in the 2010s. The writing was so authentic and the moments between the characters so real that I could not believe someone almost my exact age had written in. 

Detroit '67 is a great play to take children and young adults to as well as any other family and friends. My sons 12 and 17 actually enjoyed it. My husband and I are originally from the Midwest (He Grand Rapids, Michigan and myself from Chicago) so the basement vibe was familiar. 

The only thing that I would change for the performance was to have the men take their earrings off. aside from that, it felt like we were all back in 1967 in Detroit hanging out with them in the basement.