Madison Ferris as Jessie and Chris Grant as Darnell in the Premiere Stages production of Brick City by Nicole Pandolfo. Photo by Mike Peters.
Brick City – A Review
Brick City by Nicole Pandolfo is a new play at the Premiere Stage Company at Kean University. This is a special time for both the playwright and Premiere Stages because Brick City is one of three selections from the 2017 NJPAC Stage Exchange Commission in partnership with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and New Jersey Theatre Alliance. The play runs through September 23 at Kean’s Bauer Boucher Theatre Center. This is the first professional production for Brick City and it impressed audiences who saw it on opening weekend.
Brick City focuses on the lives of two students who attend a public high school in Newark and it brings an emphasis to problems faced by urban high school students. Ms. Pandolfo is right on target with her story that centers around a disabled female student.Jessie, and male student,Darnell, who is on the school’s basketball team. Jessie has no interest in basketball and Darnell struggles to get a good grade to remain on the team. Remaining on the team is critical to getting on to college for Darnell as he needs a basketball scholarship to make that happen. Jessie also has pressure on her to improve her attendance and grade or she faces being expelled.
The setting is a classroom in the school where extended study hall takes place. Jessie and Darnell are the only two students in the group who need to brush up on Algebra. Their teacher, Veronica Vega, knows the challenges these two face as she worked her way through an urban school system as well.
A final character very instrumental to the plot is Rogelio Ayala. Upon his return from a five year prison term, he comes to the classroom to see his relative, Darnell and also to see Miss Vega. He and Veronica dated before he was sent to prison for embezzlement. Although the couple lost touch, they still feel that electricity between each other. Rogelio wants to help Darnell get some money. So he involves him in a sports betting operation. What happens from that affects all the characters and leads to a surprising conclusion.
As the story unfolds, Jessie’s reason for being in a wheelchair is revealed along with the life she is living. Miss Vega provides some suggestions and help to her. But Darnell is stuck in some ways that the teacher cannot straighten out. Veronica decides to break off with Rogelio and that decision brings some surprising consequences with it.
It would not be right to give away the ending, but suffice it to say that there is hope for a better future for the two students. This aura of hope shines through the ending of the story and though there is not a definitive note of what happens, the audience is left to feel that these two young people can and will have a brighter future.
Director and Cast
Jessi D. Hill directs Brick City. The cast include Chris Grant as Darnell. Mr. Grant is a student at Kean University working towards his degree in theater arts. He makes Darnell a very believable character, one that you like and cheer on. Madison Ferris turns in a sensitive and moving portrayal of Jessie. Her character is snarky at first. But as the play ends, Jessie is one to admire. Jacqueline Correa plays Veronica Vega, the teacher with a past that led her to where she is now. Ms. Correa develops her as an idealist who is determined to help her students. Rafael Benoit plays Rogelio Ayala, the scheming and scamming man just let out of prison. Somehow, Mr. Benoit makes this character very likeable but also unwilling to stay on the right side of the law. Those traits turn out to be both good and bad for Veronica and Darnell.
A hearty round of applause goes out to playwright Nicole Pandolfo for the solid development of the characters and the story. The dialog keeps the show moving at a good pace. The notes of hope at the end are a pleasure to have during a time when hope is something all of us want to have.
Additional Information about Brick City
Running Time: Approx. 1 hr. 30 minutes with one intermission
Location: Bauer Boucher Theatre Center on the Kean University main campus in Union, N.J.
Performances: Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm through September 23, 2018.
Contact for Info and Tickets: call the box office at 908-737-7469 or visit Premiere Stages online at www.premierestagesatkean.com
Suggested Audience: The play content will work well for younger theater goers from high school age and up. Younger than that might also be fine. Parents know their children’s interest best.
Additional Information: Audience members are also invited to further engage with the issues raised by Ms. Pandolfo’s thought-provoking play through free post-show discussions with community leaders, local experts and artists involved with the production after select matinee performances (September 9, 15 and 22 at 3:00 pm). Featured speakers include Ms. Pandolfo (Sunday, September 9); Mr. Álvarez and Mr. Mendoza (Saturday, September 15); and Jeremy Johnson, executive director of Newark Arts (Saturday, September 22). Premiere will also offer a series of informal pre-show talks every Saturday evening 30 minutes prior to performance in the lobby of the theatre.