An idealistic young husband and wife living in pollution-choked Harlem struggle to maintain their ecological convictions in "Splash Hatch on the E Going Down," the next offering in the Yale Repertory Theatre's 1997-98 season.
The play, to be presented Jan. 15-Feb. 7, is by the celebrated new playwright Kia Corthron. "Central to our mission at the Yale Repertory Theatre is the encouragement of strong new voices for the stage," says Stan Wojewodski Jr., dean of the School of Drama and the Yale Rep's artistic director. "This production of 'Splash Hatch' is the confluence of our enthusiasm for this extraordinary new play and our ongoing commitment to fostering the development of another terrific young poet for the American theater, Kia Corthron."
Corthron has been hailed for her "distinctive voice," which one critic described as "somewhere between a hip, next-generation August Wilson and a black, feminist David Mamet." She was included in American Theatre magazine's recent list of African-American women playwrights for being "compelling, thought-provoking and stylistically fresh."
In "Splash Hatch," Corthron tells the story of Thyme, a 15-year-old honor student with an enthusiastic interest in the environment, who -- with her husband, Erry -- is preparing for the birth of her first child. While Thyme charts her baby's progress and broods over environmental problems, Erry scrambles to find a job before the baby is born. When Erry lands a job demolishing old buildings filled with lead paint and asbestos, the couple begins questioning whether they can hold onto their environmental convictions despite the realities of the working poor.
Jacqueline Watts of the Baltimore Guide wrote of "Splash Hatch": "Every time you think you have the play pegged, it makes a little flip and shows you another side of itself, and you have to drop the stereotypes and defenses about black and white and racism and poverty in the city and look at the play, which turns out to be about people doing the best they can under the circumstances, which are not good."
"Splash Hatch," like last season's "Triumph of Love," was produced in association with Baltimore's Center Stage and opened there Nov. 13. Corthron's other works have included the award-winning plays "Wake Up, Lou Riser," "Come Down Burning" and "Cage Rhythm," as well as "Seeking the Genesis," "Life by Asphyxiation," "Catnap Allegiance" and "Digging Eleven." Her radio play "Suckling Chimera," which was co-commissioned by National Public Radio and the Public Theater, will be syndicated nationally in February.
Marion McClinton, associate artist at Baltimore's Center Stage, is directing "Splash Hatch." His own play, "Police Boys," premiered under his direction at the Center Stage in 1992. His other directorial credits include "Seven Guitars," "Two Trains Running" and "Day of Absence" for Center Stage, as well as numerous productions at other regional theaters.
Appearing as Thyme and Erry are Margaret Kemp and Akili Prince, respectively. The cast also includes Ami
Brabson as Thyme's mother, David Toney as her father and Cherita A. Armstrong as Thyme's best friend, who is also pregnant.
The "Splash Hatch" design team includes scenic designer Michael Yeargan (associate professor of design at the drama school and resident designer at the Yale Rep), costume designer Katherine Beatrice Roth, lighting designer Steven Strawbridge (co-chair and associate professor of design at the drama school), sound designer Janet Kalas and fight choreographer J. Allen Suddeth.
Tickets for "Splash Hatch on the E Going Down" range from $25 to $32. Group discounts and subscriptions are also available. For information or to purchase tickets, call the Yale Rep box office at 432-1234, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The Yale Repertory Theatre is located at the corner of Chapel and York streets.