Censorship In Kate Buckley's Alabama Story

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. Kate Buckley’s direction of Jones’ Alabama Story, impeccably integrated blocking, and minimalistic technical aspects, and research to unify the story lines into a whole which resonates in contemporary times. To begin, Buckley’s blocking of the

This shines through in the eminently clear attitudes of characters and the relationships between the characters on stage, as previously mentioned before through blocking. For example, when Joshua and Lily, interacted on stage; the contrasting experiences of the time between whites and people of color was immensely evident. The quixotic ignorance of Lily playing against the affable precaution of Joshua, illustrated the privilege of the time given to whites despite the intimate history between both characters. Likewise, the comprehensive research is evident through attention to small details within the production. For example, when the recreation of the green book appears on stage, though it is not called for in the script, it brings a historical weight to the moment that may have not been present otherwise. Further, historically accurate details of set pieces, such as the coffee cart between the Capitol and State Archives building, and costumes, such as the full bell shaped skirts of Lily, envelopes the imagination of its audience, and transports them back to 1950’s Alabama, even though these aspects were minimalistic in their