From the Mississippi Delta at Westport Country Playhouse – An inspiring and honest portrayal of the late, great, Dr. Endesha Ida Mae HollanD
By Kiersten Bjork (October 25, 2022)
From the Mississippi Delta at the Westport Country Playhouse, directed by Goldie E. Patrick, is a powerful and moving production featuring three incredibly talented actresses pouring their hearts out on the stage. Written by civil rights activist Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland, From the Mississippi Delta chronicles the gripping tale of Dr. Holland’s life, from her early childhood in the Delta and the harsh realities of being a Black woman living there at that time, to her empowered rise within the civil rights movement. Westport’s production features excellent designs and stunning performances from the three women taking on the many roles within the piece – three performances you don’t want to miss.
From the Mississippi Delta at the Westport Country Playhouse, directed by Goldie E. Patrick, is a powerful and moving production featuring three incredibly talented actresses pouring their hearts out on the stage. Written by civil rights activist Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland, From the Mississippi Delta chronicles the gripping tale of Dr. Holland’s life, from her early childhood in the Delta and the harsh realities of being a Black woman living there at that time, to her empowered rise within the civil rights movement. Westport’s production features excellent designs and stunning performances from the three women taking on the many roles within the piece – three performances you don’t want to miss.
Claudia Logan, Tameishia Peterson, and Erin Margaret Pettigrew in From the Mississippi Delta
Westport Country Playhouse (Carol Rosegg) |
Tameishia Peterson, Erin Margaret Pettigrew, and Claudia Logan in From the Mississippi Delta
Westport Country Playhouse (Carol Rosegg) |
Claudia Logan, Tameishia Peterson, and Erin Margaret Pettigrew each deliver breathtaking performances. The three actresses juggle not only the character of Phelia at different ages, but they also embody her mother, neighbors, preacher, and more. The character work is exceptional, each of the three bringing strong physical choices to the distinctly different individuals that they portray in a given moment. Logan’s swaggering performance as a drunk man and Pettigrew’s fervent preacher presiding over the funeral are particular favorites.
Logan’s performance, primarily as the young and maturing Phelia, is passionate. There is a spark to her that draws the audience in, taking our hand and guiding us along on this journey with her. Logan has a rich voice that lends itself well to the music interspersed throughout the piece, composed by Michael Keck, and Logan’s range as a performer is on full display as she moves from the moments of sheer joy to moments of utter pain.
Peterson embodies the early years of Phelia’s life, fusing the playful naivety of youth with the harsh education imposed by Phelia’s circumstances to create an honest, stirring portrayal. While the writing alone tugs on our heartstrings and angers us with the injustice contained in certain scenes, Peterson’s distinct choices, particularly as she climbs the staircase, and then later returns back down, elevate the material even further.
Pettigrew is a force to be reckoned with as “Aint Baby,” Phelia’s mother. Pettigrew’s Aint Baby is a fierce and stalwart figure, a woman who has seen it all and continues to press on. She brings impressive depth to the role, with vocal and physical choices that echo the life that Aint Baby has lived. The choreography Pettigrew flows through when Aint Baby is delivering a child is utterly striking.
Logan’s performance, primarily as the young and maturing Phelia, is passionate. There is a spark to her that draws the audience in, taking our hand and guiding us along on this journey with her. Logan has a rich voice that lends itself well to the music interspersed throughout the piece, composed by Michael Keck, and Logan’s range as a performer is on full display as she moves from the moments of sheer joy to moments of utter pain.
Peterson embodies the early years of Phelia’s life, fusing the playful naivety of youth with the harsh education imposed by Phelia’s circumstances to create an honest, stirring portrayal. While the writing alone tugs on our heartstrings and angers us with the injustice contained in certain scenes, Peterson’s distinct choices, particularly as she climbs the staircase, and then later returns back down, elevate the material even further.
Pettigrew is a force to be reckoned with as “Aint Baby,” Phelia’s mother. Pettigrew’s Aint Baby is a fierce and stalwart figure, a woman who has seen it all and continues to press on. She brings impressive depth to the role, with vocal and physical choices that echo the life that Aint Baby has lived. The choreography Pettigrew flows through when Aint Baby is delivering a child is utterly striking.
Claudia Logan and Tameishia Peterson in From the Mississippi Delta
Westport Country Playhouse (Carol Rosegg) |
Erin Margaret Pettigrew in From the Mississippi Delta
Westport Country Playhouse (Carol Rosegg) |
The production features a beautiful set from scenic designer Jason Ardizzone-West. The wood paneling evokes the feeling of a rustic barn, with gaps in the paneling allowing the diverse colors illuminating the cyc to shine through. The multiple levels create a dynamic playing space for the actresses, and the sliding doors at center upstage support dramatic entrances and exits.
Lighting designer John D. Alexander brings a dazzling variety of colors to the production. The upstage cyc suggests the light of fires and sunlight, bringing that final, culminating touch of realistic life to the production. Heidi Hanson, as costume designer, has chosen a distinct color palette for each woman, choosing garments with a practical feel to them that helps to establish the world of the play further.
From the Mississippi Delta at Westport Country Playhouse brings the inspiring story of Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland to life with honor and sincerity. Logan, Peterson, and Pettigrew light up the stage with their performances that you will want to witness. Catch the production before it closes on October 30!
The performance schedule for From the Mississippi Delta is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week). Special series include Taste of Tuesday (October 18), LGBTQ+ Night Out (October 20), Post-Play Dialogue (October 20), Opening Night (October 22), Sunday Symposium (October 23), Backstage Pass (October 26), Thursday TalkBack (October 27), and Open Captions (October 30). Box Office: 203-227-4177; More info on “From the Mississippi Delta” at westportplayhouse.org/show/mississippidelta/.
Kiersten Bjork is a theatremaker and reviewer from Branford, CT, currently in the mentorship program with the Connecticut Critics Circle.
Lighting designer John D. Alexander brings a dazzling variety of colors to the production. The upstage cyc suggests the light of fires and sunlight, bringing that final, culminating touch of realistic life to the production. Heidi Hanson, as costume designer, has chosen a distinct color palette for each woman, choosing garments with a practical feel to them that helps to establish the world of the play further.
From the Mississippi Delta at Westport Country Playhouse brings the inspiring story of Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland to life with honor and sincerity. Logan, Peterson, and Pettigrew light up the stage with their performances that you will want to witness. Catch the production before it closes on October 30!
The performance schedule for From the Mississippi Delta is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week). Special series include Taste of Tuesday (October 18), LGBTQ+ Night Out (October 20), Post-Play Dialogue (October 20), Opening Night (October 22), Sunday Symposium (October 23), Backstage Pass (October 26), Thursday TalkBack (October 27), and Open Captions (October 30). Box Office: 203-227-4177; More info on “From the Mississippi Delta” at westportplayhouse.org/show/mississippidelta/.
Kiersten Bjork is a theatremaker and reviewer from Branford, CT, currently in the mentorship program with the Connecticut Critics Circle.