Fireflies views social issues through many lenses
LATHAM, N.Y. — Tonight, Curtain Call Theatre opens the two-person drama, “Fireflies.”
The little-known play is not a safe opening for the Latham theater as it uses fictional characters to suggest the secrets of famous people.
The time is 1963, the location a southern state in the United States. A charismatic African-American Reverend is becoming a national leader in the Civil Rights Movement. His wife plays the supportive figure — even in times of scandal.
Charles is a dynamic orator and a natural leader. What few people know is his speeches are written by his wife Olivia. She not only writes his material; she also coaches his delivery.
Despite her fiery, motivating speeches, the pregnant Olivia is consumed by moods of despair and has visions of explosions and the sky set afire. In her mind’s year, the air is filled with sparks resembling fireflies.
She fears bringing a child into a world where Black leaders are assassinated and children die in church bombings.
Eventually the play reveals this perfect couple in an apparently happy marriage are living a flawed existence. The couple love their mission, but there are doubts about their love for each other.
At Curtain Call, Olivia is played by Angelique Powell. Powell, has over the past five years has been the busiest actress in the community.
She has earned a reputation for playing strong women, but as her recent work in the lighthearted “Significant Other” offered by Creative License at Cohoes Music Hall shows, she is equally adept at playing charming and sexy.
Make no mistake about it, Powers, who holds a degree in psychology from Ithaca College and works for United Way as a community manager at the Blake Annex Center in Albany, will choose the socially conscious play every time.
Powers makes no secret of her passion for social activism. She says her fight is to help all those who are diminished in an inequitable society. This especially includes women who do not have an equal voice at the table.
This is one reason she is pleased to be playing Olivia. She points out that this strong, articulate black woman was reduced to having her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement take place in the shadow of her husband. “Olivia is my grandmother; she is my baby sisters.”
Warming to the topic, she says, “My one regret about the Black Lives Matter movement is that the voices that emerged were male.” She offers a string of female names she feels have been neglected.
As for public names, the general consensus is that Charles and Olivia are meant to be Reverend Martin Luther King and his wife Coretta King.
Powers does not disagree, but thinks it is irrelevant. “Michael (Lake) and I are playing a married couple who together accomplish important things. We are playing real people with real problems, not historical figures.”
She adds that they both have flaws and there are secrets about their relationship. However, the important message is how they worked together for a common goal. “It’s the work that counts. Not the lens from which it is viewed.”
It is her opinion that “Fireflies” uses many lenses to makes its point about racial and social issues.” There is no doubt the audience will have things to discuss on the ride home.
“Fireflies” continues through January 30 at Curtain Call Theatre, 1 Jeanne Jugan Lane. For tickets and schedule information go to curtain call theatre.com or call (518) 877-7529
Proof of vaccination is required and face masks must be worn.