Azuka Theatre is tackling conflicting issues of culture, sexuality and family with its production of “Lights Rise on Grace,” through Nov. 22.
The story revolves around three central characters in a complicated relationship triangle: Grace, a young Chinese woman dealing with family issues; Large, a young African-American man who has been in prison; and Riece, Large’s prison protector who maintain a relationship with him after he gets out. Each actor portrays many other characters besides their own in the story, which highlights the struggles and societal pressure faced by the main characters.
Keith Conallen, who plays Riece, said that his character, like the other two main figures, is trying to figure out where he fits in a society that wants to label and define him by circumstances.
“Riece didn’t really grow up very connected to his family,” he said. “He was a street punk and when he gets into prison he is essentially taken under a man’s wing and taken care of. He does the same for the character of Large. When they are out of prison, they try to continue that relationship. But the main motivator is to have the deep personal, human connection. While things may be going on behind [Grace’s] back, there is the mutual respect there of one another and their place in each other’s lives.”
He added that, unlike Large, Riece isn’t as hung up on the issue of his sexuality.
“Sexuality is more for Large and his issues of accepting his sexuality,” Conallen said. “For Riece, it’s the sociological situation of being an ex-con and being in the world suddenly and what that means. In terms of his connection with Grace, there’s the idea of family and connectivity with a woman and her child and [being] this male father figure is part of his concern.”
Playwright Chad Beckim said the main characters were inspired by his own experiences living and working the culturally diverse neighborhoods in New York City.
“When I was living in Spanish Harlem, I’d walk by the Chinese restaurant often and there was this little girl always there when I’d be going home at 5:30 doing her homework,” he said. “I kind of invented this story for her, this Chinese girl in this African-American neighborhood, and what that might look like and what her life must be like. That became part of the narrative for Grace. She rejected the arrangement and they disowned her. She’s first-generation Chinese and her parents are really strict. At the same time, I was teaching in a place called Boystown, which is the last stop in New York City before boys who are 15 or 16 are sent to prison as adults. They were doing all this research to understand what happened when young men go into the system at 15 or 16 when they are not really fully formed and how that can impact some of their views about sexuality. That was one of the jumping-off points for my play.”
Juggling all the different issues that these characters are dealing with is a tall order.
Beckim said he has witnessed those complexities firsthand.
“I’ve lived in Spanish Harlem for a long time. In pre-gentrification, I was the only white guy. There’s a very specific culture up there, especially if you are not from that place. I lived with a family and was basically treated like I was 15 years old: I had a curfew. There were specific streets that I should not go down. If I was bothered on the street, the family came to my aid right away. My wife is Chinese and Thai. That culture is interesting of itself. Then there’s also the idea that all these people harbor these secrets in the play. They’re being honest, but not really. They’re telling their truths but there are omissions that could be construed as lies. I don’t think the characters think they are lying but you have a jury of their peers who might say, ‘You didn’t tell us the whole truth.’ So it’s about all these things colliding: class, culture and sexuality.”
Conallen said he thinks audiences will appreciate how the characters overcome their obstacles, and come away with the idea that families aren’t always conventional or bonded by blood.
“Family doesn’t need to be this traditional thing,” he said. “It can be made up of a lot of different factors. If you have that open heart and an open mind, you can create a family out of anything.”
Azuka Theatre presents “Lights Rise on Grace” through Nov. 22 at The Adrienne Theater, 2030 Sansom St. For more information or tickets, visit www.azukatheatre.org or call 215-563-1100.