Beneatha (Kalyne Coleman) and Ruth (Chevon Boone)
By Elizabeth Mensah
For all those who did not find themselves navigating to Class of ’49 at some point on the weekend of February 18-19, let me be the first to inform you of the gravity of your mistake! Kicking off the celebration of their 20th Anniversary, The African American Arts Alliance presented “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, providing us with a dose of thoughtful entertainment and a glimpse into the lives and struggles of black Americans in the 1950’s. My fellow attendees can attest to the zestful flavor of the audience experience as it provoked our inclusion through active participation. Particularly solicitous of reaction was the well-rehearsed Nigerian accent of Keith Williams, a Wharton Senior who played the role of David Asagai, a West-African pan-Africanist who wooed the doctor-aspirant Beneatha (Kaylne Coleman) with his intellect and romanticism. Having donned his sweetheart with a Yoruba name he supposedly could not translate into English, Asagai’s first lines “Hello, Ilyo” had the crowd rolling.
As a strong supporter of 4A and admirer of artists in general, I cannot help but acknowledge both the new and familiar faces that appeared on the Raisin in the Sun program. I definitely want to lift up Chevon Boone (‘13) who delivered so believably in both the Fall and Spring show. It was clear that freshman Kalyne Coleman really jumped into character; Seniors Keith Williams and Joseph Wyatt took the stage in their first plays this semester, bringing their humor and personality to the stage. Adam Hamilton (Walter) displayed well the complexity of his character. Congratulations to the cast and crew on a remarkable production, and we hope to see more of 4A in the future!
