Praise the Lord and Raise the Roof @ Jubilee Theatre
—Jan Farrington
Where will you find more drama—onstage with a theater company, or in the pews with a smiling church congregation?
If you said theater…you haven’t been to church lately, children.
Jubilee Theatre’s production of Praise the Lord and Raise the Roof, by Houston-based (but nationally known) playwright Celeste B. Walker, is a tune-filled comedy-drama about a longstanding group of church folk whose pastor goes AWOL for a couple of weeks—to see how they behave without him, and whether they’re ready for some godly changes he and his fellow pastors believe are needed in this difficult world.
Sounds serious—and it is, at moments—but there’s plenty of pure fun in this show, set loose by director D. Wambui Richardson, choreographer Kayla Marshall, and music director Steven Taylor—who leads a fine small band playing just offstage (Taylor, Brittany Kurgat, Dre Guilford). The music is a lively mash-up of traditional songs, plus others written and composed by playwright Walker and Taylor too, himself an accomplished songwriter—all of it handled in fine form by the talented cast.
In fact, the cast felt like a happy reunion of faces I’ve been seeing at Jubilee and many other theaters this past season: Ron Johnson, Sylvester Shemil, and Davian Jackson, plus Crystal Williams, Kris Black Jasper, Sydney Hewitt, Natassia Dominique, and Tatiana John. And last but never least, Selmore Haines, who plays a double role that makes us snort with amusement—but carries a message we take to heart.
To say much more would spoil the fun. The congregation takes in a street couple (Shemil and Hewitt), whose struggles to fit in are funny and touching. (Hope Cox’s church-wear costumes totally transform these two!) There are the usual jealousies, flirtations, and jockeying for status, especially from Brother Wright (Jackson), who’s a bit too jazzed that the Reverend has left him large and in charge. And to add mystery and tension, a church-burning arsonist is on the loose in their corner of Virginia (Black churches, it sadly goes without saying).
Good messages are tucked away in the comedy and songs, and they hit home with all of us. (At the door, church fans are handed out, along with encouragement to wave, shout “Amen” and get into the action.) One line I’ll remember says we can run (but not hide) from the Almighty—for “God will catch you at the red light, baby.”
I think I might put that on a button.
WHEN: May 19-June 18, 2023
WHERE: 506 Main Street, Fort Worth
WEB: jubileetheatre.org
