Frostburg’s Thought-Provoking Performance of Alabama Story

Tell me a story. A story about the controversy surrounding a children’s book. Tell me a story. A story about a small, conservative, town amidst social reformation. Tell me a story. One about a prejudiced senator against change. Tell me the story of a librarian with different views. “Alabama Story” tells all of these stories because they are all, well, Alabama stories.

In the play, by Kenneth Jones, we watch as a children’s book stirs up trouble due to a “hidden message” within the story. A white rabbit marries a black rabbit, and this is not okay to Senator Higgins, due to the promotion of integration. Higgins, played by Andy Duncan, finds out via the newspaper, that the book is in the state library and immediately goes after the new librarian, who ordered the book for the library. Higgins did not agree with the so-called “message” of the children’s book, although we learn later on that the author did not have any intention of writing it with any political message.

As all this is happening, we witness two best friends finding each other after being separated during their childhood. The man, Joshua, a black man, played by Gershawn Mason, recognizes his friend Lily, a white woman, played by Kasey Taylor, during a stroll and they get to talking. Right away, onlookers disapprove, and one man even asks Lily if Joshua is bothering her. This story, within the story, also paints the picture of racial tension, as the two struggle to understand each other and move on from their past.

Overall, the play was very well performed. The actors slipped right into character, and the set and props made you feel like you were right there in Montgomery, Alabama. The sound effects, lighting, and other tech aspects of the performance made it come together as the icing on the cake. We watched the play go from serious, to funny, to even thought-provoking at times. The play showed depth as we watched multiple stories unfold in a fit of sarcasm, humor, protest, and rage. Frostburg’s performance of Alabama Story left the audience with a sense of understanding, yet inquiry.

One might ask, how does this story play into our society today? It gets you thinking about how recently the Civil Rights Movement took place. It shows how far we’ve come, but also how far we have yet to come. When a production makes you think, it increases its value. Thank you, Frostburg’s Department of Theater and Arts, for an amazing performance.