The playwright Dominique Morisseau knows what she is doing. That’s clear not only because she says it so convincingly in her Playbill note for Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of “Skeleton Crew,…
, “Skeleton Crew” presents a vibrant cast, poetic dialogue and profoundly layered storytelling that move the audience to audibly engage.
After a successful run Off Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company in 2016, Morisseau’s final installment of her blistering Detroit trilogy has arrived on Broadway in a new production. “Skeleton Crew” offers a microscopic look at the work lives of four Black employees at an automotive stamping plant in Detroit in the midst of the 2008 recession.
Detroit was one of the most important destinations for Black migrants from the south because of the vast work opportunities, but Black people who were hired for auto industry jobs found themselves in undesirable and more dangerous positions like those at the stamping plant. Michael Carnahan’s detailed set lays out that backdrop succinctly. Obama/Biden stickers, “Support Unions” and other signage displaying rules and regulations adorn a messy breakroom, giving context to the changing times.
A standout performance comes from Chanté Adams , making her Broadway debut as Shanita. Shanita is pregnant, prideful and enjoys being of value. “Love the way the line needs me. Like if I step away for even a second and don’t ask somebody to mind my post, the whole operation has to stop,” Shanita says.
Morisseau has penned a true ensemble piece highlighted by individuals who are flawed, relatable and vastly human. The majority of the first act is devoted to deliberate character development with scene changes led by fluid hip-hop dances by Adesola Osakalumi and stunning projections by Nicholas Hussong. At times you might wonder where it’s all going, but like the production line, every moment is judiciously planned and carefully assembled.
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