My Take
A Mini-Review of
CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY
A Play by Lynn Nottage
By: A. L. “Toni” Anderson

I recently had the pleasure of attending a production of Crumbs from the Table of Joy, the 1995 play by Lynn Nottage, at the historic Lorraine Hansberry Theatre (located on Sutter Street in San Francisco). The cast consists of Hansberry veteran Michael J. Asberry as Godfrey Crump, China Raven Crawford as Ernestine Crump (aka Darling Angel), Shakira Patrice De Abreu as Ermina Crump (aka Devout Mary), Cathleen Riddley as Lily Ann Green, and Kathy Goldie as Gerte Schulte. The play runs through February 27, 2005.

Crumbs tells the story of the Crump family who, following the death of Godfrey’s wife (and the girls’ mother), leave their rural Florida home and travel to Brooklyn, New York, in pursuit of the word of Father Divine. The atmosphere is pervaded by the distraction caused by grief, more than the grief itself.

Their early 1950s family life is far from ideal, even before they are joined by Aunt Lily, the sister of Godfrey’s deceased wife, who arrives unbidden and all but unwelcome. It is clear that Aunt Lily and Godfrey have some sort of history, even if it is all in Lily’s mind. Clearly the two adults have different opinions of how life should be lived and how children should be raised, adding to the inevitable conflict which must occur when four grown (and nearly-grown) individuals are residing together in a stuffy basement apartment.

The frequently humorous tale is narrated by the 17-year-old Ernestine, whose telling is as much filled with what she wishes had been done or said, as what actually is done or said. She laments that they do not go to the movies, or even listen to the prize radio that is so prominent in their home. All she really has to look forward to is her imminent high school graduation, and she daily works on her white dress, a symbol for her commencement, and for her eventual freedom.

Godfrey seeks solace for his recent loss in the example of Father Divine and the International Peace Mission Movement. He erroneously believes that Father Divine is living in New York, and this is the reason for the family’s move. He is certain that Father Divine has the answers to all of life’s questions, and he keeps notes on the particular questions to which he needs answers. He reveres Father Divine to the degree that he re-names his children as instructed by Father Divine. He longs to be more like Father Divine, and unexpectedly after a chance encounter, he finds that he actually becomes more like Father, in one way at least.

The play’s title is taken from lines in a Langston Hughes poem entitled Luck, which begins “Sometimes a crumb falls / From the table of joy”. Life’s crumbs are what one makes of them, and each of Nottage’s characters pieces together the crumbs he or she is given, in an attempt to make an acceptable whole.

I am increasingly impressed by the productions at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, and this is no exception. After viewing Crumbs, I am determined to go more often.

[© 02/24/2005]