REVIEW: Every Worker Can Identify With “Skeleton Crew” | Playmakers Theatre Thru Oct. 28th

“What do you do when the line stops moving?”

Skeleton Crew written by Dominique Morisseau, made its debut in Chapel Hill at the Playmakers Repertory Company. We view four modern-day workers, led by Faye (Kathryn Hunter Williams), as they survive life as line workers in Detroit mid 2008. Skeleton Crew investigates how one’s workplace family or tribe demonstrates humanity towards each other and the world. Morisseau takes us deeply into the difficult choices each blue collar worker must face.

The great thing about Skeleton Crew is that each and every one of us as workers can identify with the characters. Written by an African American female with all African American characters brings it even closer to home.

In today’s society everyone is trying to examine different mechanisms to survive day to day struggles in workplace, family, and personal lives. Morisseau’s four characters experience how the machine grinds them down to the bone amidst the constant threat of plant closures. Faye, Dez (Alex Givens), Reggie (Samuel Ray Gates), and Shanita (Shanelle Nicole Leonard) all explore different possible meanings of labor…labor to build something, laboring to pull something down, laboring to give birth, laboring for change or to maintain the status quo.

Each one of these four actors has a background rooted at UNC Theater of Arts program.

The intensity of the characters draws you in to each moment of this play. From the amazing set, to the rough edge dialogue, and the depth of the issues when work place and life collide, we can all take a lesson from these characters. “Morrisseau has created a platform that any working American can learn from,” says Williams.

Skeleton Crew run time is 2 hours and one 15 minute intermission, with shows ending on October 28th. Tickets start at $15! Visit playmakersrep.org for more information.