For two weekends, beginning April 22, Allentown Public Theatre presents the South African classic, The Island, on April 22 and 29 at Christ Lutheran Church (1245 Hamilton St.) and April 23, 24, 30 and May 1 at the Allentown Arts Park (5th & Court Sts.). Written in 1973 during the apartheid era by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona, The Island tells the story of two political prisoners on Robben Island (notorious as the prison where Nelson Mandela was held.) They labor by day, but at night, they sustain each other with memories of home, and rehearse for a prison performance of the Greek tragedy Antigone. In their portrayal of Antigone's courage, they give voice to their own dissent. The Island is a moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of crushing odds.
In Allentown Public Theatre’s production of the play, directed by Anna Russell, an ensemble representing modern-day, American prisoners frames the South African story with music and dance interludes. Through drumming, movement, and singing, this ensemble bridges the gap between past and present, and heightens the play's emotional resonance. “In a society where mass incarceration, police brutality, and racial tensions continue to plague our country, this resonance is not hard to find,” says Russell, Allentown Public Theatre's Artistic Director.
In this production of The Island, Ryan Fields and Jamil Joseph play John and Winston. The ensemble includes percussionist Vernon J. Mobley, with movement and voices by Chiedu Mbonu and Theophilus Timothy. Russell is pleased that APT's plans to produce The Island helped inspire last November's launch of a year-long, Valley-wide arts series, called Voices of Conscience: Toward Racial Understanding. The goal of Voices of Conscience – and this production of The Island – is to foster a climate that nurtures the production of socially-conscious art and engages the community in relevant conversation. APT will present an additional private performance of The Island for Lehigh County Correctional Center residents.The Island is loosely based on a true story. Fugard, a white South African, had dared to form an inter-racial theatre company. He was rehearsing a production of Antigone – with its message of standing up to oppression – when some of his actors were arrested on trumped-up charges and sent to Robben Island prison, where, word came back, one was doing a one-man version of the Greek tragedy during lunch hour. Creating The Island was equally dangerous. “[I]t was forbidden to mention that Robben Island even existed,” John Kani told The New York Times. “But we wanted to make a play about prison because we all knew so many people who were in jail . . .” The Island premiered in Capetown under another name to avoid censorship. Then it toured internationally, including Broadway, where the actors, Kani and Ntshona, shared a Tony Award for Best Actor in 1975.Performances of The Island run April 22-May 1 on Fridays at 7pm indoors at Christ Lutheran Church (1245 Hamilton St.) and at the Allentown Arts Park (5th & Court Sts.) on Saturdays at noon and 5pm, and Sundays at 2pm.In the case of rain, alternative indoor locations have been arranged. Tickets are $18 for adults; $14 for seniors, and $12 for students. Recommended for audiences high school age and above. Advance tickets, group rates, and more info at www.AllentownPublicTheatre.com.