Acting out: Wing playwright and cast perform play at BAFB theater

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Sherri Bohannon
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AFB, La. --  There's a first time for everything. This phrase certainly rings true for most of the actors who recently performed in the stage play, "Lord Have Mercy She Just Ain't Gon' Doo-Rite" performed right here on the Barksdale Theater stage Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Playwright and Wing member, Tech. Sgt. Bruce "Bee-Jay" Johnson, wrote, directed and starred in the play centered on Lena and Henry, a young Black couple, whose 10-year marriage is filled with bickering and strife. Henry feels like Lena just won't "doo rite," no matter what. He feels especially isolated when Lena and her mother, Miss Louise, take off on shopping excursions with his hard-earned money.

"They're (Lena and Henry) quirky, said Kirk Williams, who plays Henry. "You might question, 'Are they in love?' But they really are."

The play delves into many issues affecting all of us, from marital strife to questions of spirituality and politics, to love and loss. Its characters, most new to the business, do a wonderful job of conveying each message to the audience in a comedic, effective way.

Trouble between the two only intensifies when Lena's father, Bartholomew "Gramps" runs off after a "sophisticated, trifling, rich woman," Shirley Mae Thomas, played by Lenka Isaac.

She goes as far as to claim Gramps fathered her child, Cousetta Mae, a mentally slow, "short bus" kind of girl, played by April Demery.

Gramps' bubble quickly bursts, of course, when he finds out Shirley is only out to use him, and he humbly returns to Lena, begging her forgiveness and asking for a roof over his head.

This infuriates Henry. "This is MY house!" Henry exclaims. "And your daddy ain't comin' back in here!"

Next, is the scene that brings the house down, a scene radically changed and rehearsed for the first time only two days before the play's debut. Funny girl Gloria Jefferson, "Lena," erupts in song and prayer to the spiritual, "Stand by Me." Her comedic, animated style causes laughter to erupt throughout the crowd. Even her co-star can't hold back the laughter.

She pleads with the Lord to soften Henry's heart. And the Lord answers her prayer.

The family is reunited, and the play ends with the entire cast celebrating in dance and song.

Being a big fan of stage acting, I was quite impressed with Bee-Jay's ability to so effectively use comedy to convey real-life messages. I was even more impressed, though, with the abilities of the cast, the majority of who were on the stage for the very first time.

Having caught the acting bug, Gloria ("Lena") says she would definitely love to do this again in the future.

I agree. Good job to all involved! Great play! Good entertainment! For those of you who missed the production, you missed a treat!

See more photos of the performance under "Photos," "People," and "Bruce Johnson Play Feb 2007."