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Ain't Got Time To Die
A two-act play by Gregory S. Carr

August 20-22, 26, 28, 29 2004
Directed by Don Weiss

Hezekiah Trueblood has just resigned his pastorate due to his church’s disapproval to his wife Tirzah, a younger woman. He lives his dreams through his son Jeremiah and wants him to go to Tuskegee, but young Jeremiah is interested in becoming an actor, against his father’s wishes. He is encouraged by his grandmother, Queenester Trueblood, who is the matriarch of the house. Adonijah Brownlow, a potential pastoral candidate stays with the Truebloods temporarily while his credentials are being considered. Simon Greenbaum and Lydia Bridges from the Federal Theater see Jeremiah’s potential as an actor, but is rebuffed by Hesekiah. Silas Morgan, the Cairo, Illinois Sheriff arrests Brownlow who is exposed as a wanted criminal. Jeremiah has run away to become part of the Federal Theater and returns to perform a scene from Othello before he leaves for Chicago. The word gets out around Cairo of this, and Jeremiah is subsequently lynched. Hezekiah finally understands what it means to be a man through his son’s death and stands up to the patronizing Jonathan Merriweather who has witnessed the lynching and demands that he disclose all the perpetrators.

“The text on the whole is very strong, and it is a privilege to see the premiere production with as much to offer as this one has.” – Daniel Higgins KDHX

CAST

REV. HEZEKIAH TRUEBLOOD TIRZAH TRUEBLOOD JEREMIAH TRUEBLOOD MOTHER TRUEBLOOD ADONIJAH BROWNLOW DEACON JOHNSON REV. MERRIWEATHER SHERIFF MORGAN SIMON GREENBAUM LYDIA

Eric Toler Joyce Meeks Paris Crayton, III Judith Jones Alex Ross Brian Jones Thomas Moore Tyler Duenow Adam Rosen Jennifer Gordon

Adonijah Brownlow (Alex Ross) preaches "Liberation Theology." Tirzah (Joyce Meeks) confronts her husband, Rev. Hezekiah Trueblood (Eric Toler).  "He's my son, too." "Sheriff Morgan (Tyler Duenow), why are you arresting this man (Adonijah)?" Rev. Merriweather (Thomas Moore) wants to know, while Hezekiah, Tirzah, Mother Trueblood, and Deacon Johnson (Brian Jones) look on. "And the veil of temple was torn in two," Hezekiah shouts at Merriweather as he preaches in the whoopin' style.  Deacon Johnson stares in stunned silence, while Tirzah prays over the slain body of her stepson, Jeremiah.

"Don't make fun, grandmama," budding actor Jeremiah (Paris Crayton, III) admonishes Mother Trueblood (Judith Jones). "My name is Simon Greenbaum," the Federal Theatre Program Coordinator (Adam Rosen) repeats unnecessarily. "They lynched my son," Hezekiah laments, while Tirzah, Mother Trueblood, Rev. Merriweather, and Deacon Johnson mourn. Mother Trueblood exults, "Hallelujah, Lord!  My boy's a man.  He's a man."  Tirzah, Hezekiah, Simon, and Lydia (Jennifer Gordon) mourn.