“A Raisin in the Sun” Broadway 2014 – Denzel’s Daring Interpretation

One of the most anticipated revivals of the 2014 Broadway season turned out to be one of the best.

When it was announced that Denzel Washington would be appearing in a limited two-month revival of “A Raisin In The Sun” Broadway 2014, theater goers were ecstatic. One of America’s greatest actors in one of drama’s most celebrated plays caused tickets to sell out within days. I bought my tickets the moment they went on sale and built my travel plans around them. It proved to be a great decision! Every aspect of the production was brilliant. Although from an acting standpoint Denzel Washington was the big attraction, the supporting cast, led by the brilliant Sophie Okonedo and the sublime Anika Noni Rose, was magnificent.

The play was a riveting, groundbreaking drama at the time it premiered in 1959. The story centers around the Younger family, a working class family living in a cramped apartment on Chicago’s South Side. Matriarch Lena is waiting to receive a life insurance check for her recently deceased husband. Her chauffeur son Walter (Washington) has big dreams; a slick friend has convinced him to go in on buying a liquor store. His grand plans come into conflict with the more grounded plans of his mother. She hopes to buy a little house for the family. The battle of wills between these two stubborn characters becomes the central conflict of the play. The major subplot has to do with the location of the new home Mama wants to buy. It is in a segregated neighborhood. The homeowners association sends a representative offering money to the family NOT to move in.

A 1959 Drama in 2014

“A Raisin in the Sun” Broadway 2014 is much the same play – in terms of script – as it was in 1959. However, the times are different and the impact of the play is different. In 1959 it was high voltage, ripped from the headlines material. Today it plays differently. The power of the brilliant drama is intact, but the issues facing the family feel somewhat dated. Aspects of “A Raisin in the Sun” Broadway 2014 play as a period piece. That is not a criticism. It is a period piece. So is “Hamlet” and so is “Death of A Salesman.”

Denzel’s Daring Interpretation

“Raisin” is one of those plays so identified with one actor that any revivals are invariably compared to the original. Like Zero Mostel in “Fiddler On The Roof” or Yul Brenner in

“The King And I.” Or Sidney Poitier in “A Raisin In The Sun.”  Although “Raisin” was revived on Broadway once – with Sean Combs in the lead – the role of Walter Lee Younger is always associated with the amazing Sidney Poitier. Mr. Poitier, well aware of the importance of the role and the play, portrayed Walter Lee as noble but flawed man. He approached the role with his customary dignity. Denzel Washington interprets the role quite differently. In “A Raisin In The Sun Broadway” 2014, Mr. Washington presents Walter Lee as a feckless, fey schemer who doesn’t seem like he will ever amount to much. A key plot point revolves around whether Mama will trust Walter Lee to manage the family finances as head of the household. In the Sidney Poitier version this seems like an inevitable choice. His Walter Lee appears intelligent and hard-working despite his reckless business plan. Mr. Washington goes in a completely different direction. His Walter Lee is more of a loser, a man with grandiose dreams and an inflated view of himself, but without the gravitas to back it up. This makes Mama’s decision more unexpected and bold. It reflects the superb direction offered by Kenny Leon.

Although the producers made it clear Denzel Washington is the big draw,  he does not outshine the other cast members. This is due to a couple of factors. First, Mr. Leon’s direction makes “A Raisin In The Sun” Broadway 2014 more of an ensemble piece and less of a star vehicle. In this, Mr. Washington is superb. He comes off as just one member of a flawless, talented cast. Secondly, the pacing of the play and the direction is energetic and spirited. The audience was laughing quite a bit during the performance. The original drew almost no laughs whatsoever.

As mentioned, the entire cast was excellent. The role of Mama Lena is a sure-fire star maker and LaTanya Richardson Jackson does not disappoint. However, Sophie Okonedo as Walter Lee’s long-suffering wife absolutely shines in what is written as rather a drab role. Ms. Okonedo

Sophie Okonedo in “A Raisin in the Sun” Broadway 2014

brings a quiet dignity to the role of Ruth that puts her in stark contrast to her flashy, flamboyant but feckless husband.  Anika Noni Rose as brainy sister Beneatha gives a wonderfully flexible performance. On the one hand, Beneatha is talented, smart and driven. On the other, she is still a very young woman in search of herself. Ms. Rose is alternatively funny, disdainful and wise. It is a sterling performance.

Powerful Production

The entire production team of “A Raisin in the Sun Broadway” 2014 deserves tremendous credit. Staging the revival in the same Broadway Theater that housed the original run is a lovely and appropriate touch. As audiences entered the theater, they listen to an interview with Lorraine Hansberry. The sets, costumes, and staging were all executed perfectly and were tremendously appropriate for the time, place, and feel of this historical classic. What a shame that this production is so severely limited in its run. And what a joy it was to witness a classic Broadway drama so perfectly executed.

To see the complete cast listing, click here.