In "Dogcatcher," an original play being presented by Crowded Kitchen Players virtually as part of the "Live from IceHouse Tonight" series, racism is explored as a black man wants to run for mayor in a white town.
The first part of a seven-part series streaming on Youtube Thursdays sets up the intriguing premise
nicely. Xavier Books is the popular winning high school football coach in the rural Pennsylvania town of Breezywood. Played with easy confidence and affability by William Alexander, it soon becomes clear Xavier is the only black person in the small community.
While he tells the audience how everyone in town likes him, there are small hints that things are not as rosy as they seem. Florence Taylor as Xaviers clear-eyed grandmother tells him never to make eye contact with a white man in a flashback and Melissa Andrews as a woman with whom Xavier has spent the night worries that someone might see him as he leaves.
As the first episode unfolds, David Oswald as the interim mayor reveals he is not running for reelection and as town council debates who should run, Xavier decides they are telling him he should run for mayor, ending the play on that cliffhanger that leaves the viewer wanting more.
The play was filmed entirely at Bethlehems Icehouse and director Ara Barlieb makes good use of every part of the building. A scene in which Xavier stands against the Icehouses brick interior wall as people walk by has the feeling of people streaming by on a busy sidewalk and even the dressing rooms are smartly utilized. The result gives the play a bit of a film feel.
Adding a foreboding note to the play is Barliebs decision to preface scenes with short clips from Klu Klux Klan leaders he filmed at a national rally in Snyder County for a 1990 documentary on bigotry.
The clips are juxtaposed with scenes of townfolk mingling at a party and using language that sounds suspiciously similar to Klu Klux Klan comments.
The remaining episodes will be streamed Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. Oct. 22, 29 and Nov. 5, 12, 19 and 26 on both the Live from IceHouse Tonight's Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The episodes are free, but donations to Crowded Kitchen Players or The IceHouse Tonight will be gratefully accepted.
Episodes will be archived on Youtube and Facebook pages after the premiere.
For information, go to www.facebook.com/icehousetonight.