Alabama Story Kenneth Jones Analysis

Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones, was produced at the Clarence Brown Theatre, January, 2018. Jones’ play follows the story of Emily Reed, the State Librarian of Alabama in 1959, as she fights against censorship in Jim Crowe era Montgomery, Alabama. Simultaneously the audience watches childhood acquaintances catch up and remember what led to their sudden, and lengthy estrangement. Through Jones’ play we learn about the importance of books and reading, in education, social justice, and self-determination. Under the direction of Kate Buckley, audiences were swept into the world a play, with Civil Rights Era southern accents, attitudes, and beliefs. The acting of this show, though good, was one of the weakest links of the production as a whole.

Cunningham, from the outset of the production, embodies librarian Emily Reed in a way that keeps the audience transfixed. There is movement of the character even in when her body is still, and there is communication through the character even when words are not spoken. Cunningham’s portrayal of Reed, makes audiences feel like they have a connection to the protagonist, an unspoken bond that leads to an understanding that does not have to be spoken to. Likewise, Mani, who performs as Senator Higgins, has such a truthful performance that audiences cannot help but hate him. There is no showman ship in his performance though his character himself is a showman. His accent is smooth, deep, and slow which emphasizes the way of life and beliefs that people of the time carry with them. Mani’s performance is antagonistic and evil, but all under the guise of humble and hospitable southern charm. It is eerie the familiarity that comes through in the character of Higgins, even with people of contemporary times. These two actors, especially pitted against each other as protagonist and antagonist, draw audiences in and envelope them into the world of the play. When it is just the two of them on stage, Cunningham and Mani, there is a palpable tension. The audience seems to hold its breath waiting for what will be

Arnold does a splendid job of depicting the African American experience during Jim Crowe South through his body language. For example, again, when Joshua and Lily are first reunited in the park, the way he keeps his hat off while speaking to her, or the way he awkwardly stands around the “whites only” bench she is sitting on, or the way his body tenses when the white passerby enters the scene, all illustrate the anxiety and the discord that paints the African American experience of the mid-century. However, Arnold’s intentions are not truly clear until the flashback scene. This make the scenes on stage boring and stagnant. It does not give the audience anything to be interested in or follow, but rather leads the audience to lose