Editor’s Note: Contains spoilers for “Appropriate,” which includes potentially disturbing content.
Tucked at the far west end of Farmville – past main campus, Lancer Park and Centra – sits Waterworks Players, Farmville’s community theatre. From Feb. 15 through Feb. 23, Waterworks put on their production of “Appropriate,” the Tony Award-winning play written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
“Appropriate” is the story of a family coming to terms with their family’s history of racism — finding a photo album and “trophies” from lynchings as they handle their late father’s plantation home and estate.
Major characters include Antoinette “Toni” Lafayette (Dr. Leigh Lunsford), the eldest sister, her teenage son Rhys Thurston (Logan Schock), Beauregarde “Bo” Lafayette (Erik Varela), the middle brother, his wife Rachael Kramer-Lafayette (Dr. Sarah Varela), their children Cassidy and Ainsley (Audrey Kott and Grayson Clabo), the youngest son Francois “Frank” or “Franz” Lafayette (Eric Hooper), and his fiance River Rayner (Jordan McPherson).
Throughout the play, there exist many different dynamics between the characters. Franz returns to atone and apologize for his past to the intense suspicion of Toni, Bo experiences severe financial stress, Toni and Rachael find themselves at each other's throats, Toni desperately tries to forge a relationship with her son, and characters seem to often encourage Cassidy to lust for Rhys (her first cousin).
The play relies very heavily on shock, leaving the audience either stunned, uncomfortable, or a strange mix of both. For example, Toni — rejecting accusations of antisemitism against her father — responds angrily to Rachael, culminating in Toni using an anti-semetic slur against her. At another point, the audience is left alone with Rhys as he looks at the photo album before putting it aside and pleasuring himself (while watching on his phone what one can infer to be two men having sex) and being caught by Franz. Late in the play, we find out the horrifying nature of Franz’s past — that he’s a sex-offender who impregnated a 12-year-old girl and got her pregnant.
That said, the most notable of these came at the end of the second act, where Ainsley (the young son of Bo and Rachael) walks down the stairs during a family fight wearing a Klu Klux Klan hood.
The program gives six definitions for the word “appropriate,” all of which interestingly apply to the play. Most interestingly, at least to me, the idea of cultural appropriation seems to be a common thread throughout the play. Not because any of the characters are necessarily appropriating black culture, but because they are appropriating the pain of those impacted by their father’s racism.
Most of the characters see the lynching photos as objects rather than looking at what they represent. In fact, the characters eventually decide to sell the photos in order to pay off debt their father left behind.
The play has an all-white cast for a reason. “Appropriate” focuses on the white reaction to historical racism — an objectively poor one. While the play is about the photo album and how the family reacts, the audience gets lost in the family drama alongside the characters. When the play reminds you of the greater context (the history, the photo album and their father’s racism), it hits you with it.
All around, the cast’s performances were incredible — another example of local, community theatre punching far above its weight. However, Lunsford’s performance as Toni was the standout. Toni’s character is the product of how families treat eldest sisters — as the babysitters and caretakers, always left to be the villain. The play is designed to make you hate Toni, and admittedly, it is very easy to. However, I was left with nothing but sadness for her as the show ended.
She is jaded, angry and exhausted, and Lunsford was able to give justice to the complicated backstory of Toni.
Another incredible performance was that of Hooper, who played perhaps the most challenging role of them all. Franz’s character is intensely complicated, fighting to prove to his family that he’s a changed man. Hooper’s performance adds to the complexity of Franz’s character, making you genuinely believe he’s changed. His interactions with River, despite Toni referring to her as a “walking rape-fantasy,” seem real. Franz also genuinely tries to help mentor Rhys, though awkwardly and not particularly well.
The revelation of Franz’s past rips away some of the trust the audience had built with him. I was left incredibly conflicted with his character, and I’m still not entirely sure how I feel.
My other standout performance came from S. Varela, who played Rachael. Her character was, in many ways, set forth to be the “nagging wife” stereotype, also playing into the fact she was easily the most liberal of the characters. She was the first to note her father-in-law’s past anti-semitic remarks, and in turn, ended up in screaming matches with Toni at various points.
S. Varela managed to pull off her character very effectively, her fights with Lunsford’s character felt intensely natural. At one point, Rachael refers to Toni as the c-word, over and over again. However, it didn’t feel forced or inauthentic. Her lines didn’t feel purely for shock value, she yelled them and she meant them. While a product of excellent playwriting, S. Varela pulled it off based on her acting ability.
I would also be remiss if I did not mention the actual production. At the end, the set fell apart to represent the passage of time — culminating in a construction worker coming in to condemn the property, the final scene of the play. It was intensely impressive and well-executed.
I am more divided on some of the sound elements. The cicadas, a staple of the American South, added a nice touch to the context of the story. However, at some points, the sound elements were either delayed or too quiet. For example, in the scene intended to reveal that Rhys is closeted, the volume was too low and you couldn't tell what he was watching.
All in all, however, this production of “Appropriate” was excellent — and I can without hesitation say I am glad to have watched it. Director Sean Dowse and the Waterworks’ team put on an excellent performance. While the writing of Jacobs-Jenkins is nothing short of genius, it is the cast and crew that brought the story to life.
While the run of “Appropriate” has ended, Waterworks will continue. Next, S. Varela will direct John Logan’s “Red” in late-April to early-May. I will be there, I hope you will be as well.
4.5/5
Editor’s Note: Jordan McPherson is a member of The Rotunda’s staff.
