There’s no place like ‘Home’ on Broadway
This revival is filled with joy, pain, heart and hope
The first Broadway revival of Samm-Art Williams’ “Home” is full of joy and pain, heart and hope.
And sorrow, for the playwright passed away days before the first preview. But rest assured Williams is smiling from above after every performance, for this atypical work is engrossing and entertaining.
The story is about Cephus Miles (Tory Kittles), a Black farmer in North Carolina. He’s in love with Pattie Mae (Brittany Inge), who goes off to college. But things take a turn when he is thrown in jail for opposing the Vietnam War draft. And when he moves to the big city, his life becomes dangerous and complicated.
Directed by the Tony Award-winning Kenny Leon, the script in this 90-minute show is packed with poetry, melody, rhythm and song.
There’s talk of land, soil, sun, rain and crops. God, faith and family — and America.
There are dozens of characters, but only three people in this small but mighty production. The acting is first-rate. Stori Ayers is identified as Woman Two in the program, but she portrays everyone from a a youngster to a prison guard to a bus driver. Watching her transform from one moment to the next is one of the highlights of the show.
The audience warms up to Kittles quickly. He allows us to share Cephus’ tragedy as he goes from the comforts of home to jail to being lost among the masses, peddling for cash any way he can.
Inge plays multiple characters, too, but she shines bright as Pattie Mae. Maybe it’s her eyes? Her smile? There’s real chemistry between Inge and Kittles that is wonderful to see.
The minimal set by Arnulfo Maldonado works, as does lighting by Allen Lee Hughes, costumes by Dede Ayite, sound design by Justin Ellington, and hair and wig design by Nikiya Mathis. Kate Wilson deserves mention as voice coach.
Everything comes together to make this a feel-good evening. The ending may be predictable, but that’s OK.
“Home” opens the 2024-25 season, and it’s timing could not be better. What are the tens of thousands of migrants looking for? Jobs, opportunities, a place to start again.
The work also gives voice to the poor and lonely and homeless — and anyone in America looking for a place to fit in, to belong.
And it’s a reminder that no matter how far away we go, we can’t escape who we are, where we come from.
Go: “Home,” through July 21, Todd Haimes Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., New York, $49 to $149; 212-719-1300, roundabouttheatre.org.