Sometimes, the truth is just as powerful as fiction.
Starting this weekend that leads into Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Prime Stage Theatre is mounting a production of “Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story,” written by Natalia Temesgen. The hour-long production gives a compact and compassionate introduction to the story of Bridges who, at 6 years old, was the first Black student to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans after the school was racially integrated.
The real-life Bridges faced enormous adversity at such a young age. She was met with crowds of angry people screaming and throwing things when she came to school each day, and every white parent removed their children from the building as soon as she entered. All but one teacher — Barbara Henry — refused to teach as long as a Black student attended the school. For a year, Bridges was a class of one.
But Bridges was courageous far beyond her years. Still alive today at the age of 70, she has written books and formed a foundation based on her experiences. It’s fortunate that her legacy of bravery and perseverance persists in books, film and plays — including “Look Forward.”
The play follows Bridges, her parents and teacher Barbara Henry through her journey, from the decision to place her at Frantz Elementary to the end of her first year there. We see her mother and father struggle over the choice (and its consequences), Ruby’s battles with loneliness and rejection at school and Henry’s kindness and attention toward Ruby.
This production’s Ruby is Saniya Lavelle, a young actor who is just as bright as her character. She portrayed both the innocent and precocious sides of Ruby with a bright optimism that only made the story more poignant.
Joylette Portlock and Richard McBridge play Ruby’s parents, Lucille and Abon. Portlock is the picture of maternal love and care, but she is deft at showing Lucille’s internal fight between protecting her child and giving her the best opportunities possible. She and McBride work well as a married couple on opposing sides of an issue, both in their tension and loving familiarity.
And Stacia Paglieri lit up the classroom set as Henry, perfectly donning the mantle of a caring elementary school teacher. But she shines brightest in the scenes where her own frustrations and sadnesses of the situation peek through.
The production’s technical design is simple but effective, with a detailed but economical set design by Livi Mosca. The early-’60s costumes, designed by Meg Kelly, were lovely highlights, and the sound design by Samantha Magill effectively used recordings of yelling crowds and music to bring new dimension to the spare production.
Dramaturg Rebecca L. Godlove and director Linda Haston approach the text — and history — with a reverence that was clear in every line. There was so much care taken to accurately and sensitively tell Ruby’s story. After Saturday’s opening night performance, in a post-show Q&A, three of the actors spoke about the extensive research Haston asked them each to do about their characters to ensure the best possible understanding of the material. The results of that thoroughness were evident on the stage.
The message of “Look Forward” is clear and relevant: The world is a better place when our differences are appreciated and not eschewed, and hate and division only keep us from the shining light that is our potential. Prime Stage’s lovely and moving production will inspire audiences to remember the lessons of history’s bravest figures and carry them into the world today.
Prime Stage Theatre’s “Look Forward: the Ruby Bridges Story” will run through Jan. 26 at the New Hazlett Theater on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Learn more and get tickets at primestage.com.