Anthony Fleming
III in the title role of Denmark at Victory Gardens Theater
Denmark
Commissioned to be the inaugural production
of Victory Gardens Theatre’s 12 million dollar renovation
of the historic Biograph Theater, Denmark is an evocative
drama about freed slave Denamark Vesey, who allegedly organized
a slave rebellion in Charlestown, South Carolina in 1822.
What is our commitment
to fulfill our personal hopes and dreams, versus our obligation
to a greater public good, at a time when the need for that
greater good is dire? The provocative questions raised in
the world premier of Denmark in 2006 share remarkable similarities
to conversations held in the recent history of the United
States of America.
“…Smith’s
play – a skillfully constructed and superbly acted drama
that poses the questions about the exceedingly thorny issue
of just who is a freedom fighter and who is a terrorist.”
- Hedy Weiss Chicago Sun-Times
“…playwright
Charles Smith cleverly contemplates whether there’s
all that much of a difference between what people think is
true and what actually forms reality.” – Variety
“This debut
play continues many of the themes of economic justice and
personal challenge that Smith has been exploring for years
at Victory Gardens and beyond. Like many of Smith’s
complex works Denmark is based on a historical figure
– in this case Denmark Vesey, a black man from turn
of the 19th century Charleston, S.C. A brilliant man, Vesey
(Anthony Flemming III) buys his freedom after getting lucky
with a lottery ticket, and he has great success in a capitalist
life. But with the injustice of institutionalized slavery
gnawing away at his soul, Vesey ultimately has to confront
the predicament faced by all who set out to change their worlds:
Should one work expediently or try to blow up the opposition?
Smith also is pondering that other rub that seems to reoccur
with men of politics, be they ancient or modern, black or
white: What are the personal responsibilities of a man with
bigger fish to fry? Must the romantic partner of a political
leader always have to indemnify him from personal betrayal?”
– Chris Jones Chicago Tribune
“The mix of
faith, mysticism and idealism is pitted against prejudice,
superstition and paranoia in a brilliant and memorable work.”
– Joe Stead Steadstyle Chicago
“Smith deftly
delivers these themes through complex characters that whether
black or white are neither completely good nor completely
bad, and who seem real and contemporary without sounding anachronistic.”
- John Olson Chicago
“Oh…it
was wonderful and complicated and mesmerizing.” –
An Incidental Critic
The
World Premiere of Denmark was directed by Victory
Gardens Theater Artistic Director Dennis Zacek. It featured
Velma Austin, Anthony Fleming III, Kenn E. Head, Raoul Johnson,
Joe Van Slyke, and A.C. Smith.
Production Requirements:
Cast requirements: 6 men, 1 woman
Set requirements: Unit Set, various locations.
Approximate running time: 2 hours
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