Stunning Powerful Royale at Writers

Marco Ramirez's compactly formed 2013 play The Royale now on stage at Writers Theatre. is a riveting, emotionally charged work that imagines Jack Johnson, the boxer once known as the Galveston Giant, leading up to his historic fight with the formerly undefeated white heavy weight champion of the world in what was billed as the fight of the century.  It was the height of the Jim Crow era and there was a strict color line for pugilists that Johnson broke ushering in a new era in boxing. In his time white and black men did not fight in a ring.  Johnson was the Black Champion.  He wanted to fight the undefeated Heavy Weight Champion and claim the World title.  His win in 1910 set off race riots. 

Director Tyrone Phillips uses body percussion and one person fight re-enactments that use movement (artfully created by Rasell Holt)  to convey the violence of the ring. It is visceral and uncomfortable, but builds tension on Lauren M. Nichols' spare and beautiful set that gives us an entire world in the square of a boxing ring. The simplicity and strength in this work grips the viewer and keeps you on the edge of your seat for the full 90 minutes, even though you may know the outcome. 

La’Tevin Alexander portrays the skill and physicality as well as the arrogance of Johnson. His undeniable attractiveness makes so much seem possible.  It takes no imagination to see the sheer physical talent of this character and to imagine how far he would have gone had he not been born a black man in America at the turn of the last century. AnJi White as his sister and stand in for the voice of the opponent and society brings gravitas and consequences to the story. 

This is profound theatre that will shake you up. The actor's skill in bringing this moment to life is mighty to behold.  This play right now shows us that we have not come nearly far enough in a better history to escape our difficult past. Don’t skip the mirror this holds up to our time. It might be ironic that Donald Trump finally issued a long sought pardon to Johnson in 2018–Johnson who married at least two white women and was involved with others, was convicted in 1913 of violating the Mann Act and sentenced to prison. 

The Royale is playing at suburban Glencoe’s Writers Theatre Wednesdays through Sundays through November 29th at  325 Tudor Court.  For tickets and information go to https://www.writerstheatre.org/events/the-royale

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