Ray Graham

Distant conflict hits home in ‘Escalation Time’

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By John Lyle Belden

How you feel about October 7, 2023, will affect how you respond to “Escalation Time,” an intimate drama at The District Theatre, written by and starring Francesca Root-Dodson with Reuben Barsky and Ray Graham, directed by Molly Shayna Cohen.

East-coast liberal academics Zev (Barsky), a History professor approaching tenure, and Kate (Root-Dodson), an adjunct professor, are married and seem happy – though her wanting to have a child appears to be causing some tension. Then, on that October day, they witness the Hamas attacks in Isreal, just outside Gaza, on their televisions. As the world changes, so does theirs.

From a Jewish family, though non-practicing, Zev is moved by the horrors of the initial attack and hostage-taking. In the days to come, he embraces his heritage with others at the university as they deal with growing antisemitism.  

Kate, who is Russian and whose godfather, Classics professor Jim (Graham), was once part of the Weather Underground, feels for the citizens of Gaza who are caught in the ongoing conflict. She spends evenings with a student protest group, and the rest of her time glued to the videos of death and destruction on her smartphone.

However, this play is about more than global politics or the value of different peoples’ lives. These events strike at the faultlines that were already present, and easy to ignore, in Kate and Zev’s relationship. She is profoundly affected, and likely in need of mental health counseling – something he firmly doesn’t believe in. For his part, what had seemed just a contrarian streak shifts into more conservative attitudes he had ignored or kept hidden all along.

New Yorkers Root-Dodson and Barsky present their roles with well-practiced ease, allowing us to sense the love between their characters, as well as the pain of its fracturing. Local actor Graham, his character wizened and with a “terrorist” past, brings a unique perspective. Being three persons in America yet without strict allegiance to it helps us see their feelings on events half a world away more clearly.

The stage set is the couple’s living room, appropriately littered with multiple stacks of books. Thousands of words surrounding them, yet solutions remain elusive and communication a battle.

“Thought provoking” is an understatement for this engaging piece of theatre. “Escalation Time” has performances Thursday, Friday and twice Saturday, May 21-23, at The District Theatre, 627 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis. Get tickets at indydistricttheatre.org.

‘Lockefield’ showing lots of promise

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By John Lyle Belden

We got an early look at a new play, “Lockefield on the Ave,” presented by Black Light Training and Development on March 28-30, 2025, at The District Theatre. The following paragraphs are my response, posted to the PWJW Facebook page to help get the word around during its one-weekend run. Black Light is doing important artistic work with local creatives in contributing to the story of being Black in America, and especially in Indiana.

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This short play by Robert Webster focuses on the Indiana Avenue scene in Indianapolis in the mid-20th century. Percy Davis (Quinton Hayden) has a little bar on the Avenue. It was started by his father Freeman (Gene Tommy Howard) after a moment of good luck, before his fortunes reversed tragically thanks to his former boss – and Klan member – Jack Sucker (Ray Graham). Jack’s bigotry was inherited from his hooded father and Confederate grandfahter, but his son Tom (Clay Mabbitt) doesn’t see things that way and, as an aspiring journalist, goes so far as to attempt to write for the Black-owned Indianapolis Recorder. In what we will realize is a full circle moment, Tom interviews Percy to get an honest perspective on Indianapolis Avenue and the people there.

We get a lot of information on the characters and especially Indy’s Black history, aided by fellow cast members T. J. O’Neil, Sam Hill, and Tamara Taylor. Much of it feels like a sort of staged documentary, but the true story of the Avenue is something we all need to learn or be reminded of, as it has been largely left out of local history.

With tight direction by Eric Washington, this play is like a rough-cut diamond. There is a lot of potential for Webster and Black Light to polish and form with more drama and perhaps a two-act structure to bring together its elements – including plot points like the Davis pocketwatch, publishing the story, and the Sucker family dynamic – into a priceless gem of theatre. What we have so far is like a healthy first course of soul food, making us hungry for more.

Note that to be authentic, the N-word and opinions that thankfully are not so common now are freely expressed, in their proper context. Take comfort that this show ends with a moment of unity.

A big shout-out to Black Light interim artistic director TJ Rowley for giving me and Wendy a sneak-peek at this precious jewel, with our hope of continued success for the company.