My life has been a tapestry

The play presents three stages in the life of Sadie, the central character in this story of family, community, history, land and pride. We meet Sadie as a teenager in 1939, follow her through marriage and motherhood in 1965, and finally, see her as a proud elder sage in 2002.

Gee’s Bend is told delicately and subtlety in small scenes that capture not only the maturation of a matriarch, but also touch on moments in history. Wilder is extremely careful to let the characters tell the story rather than have it driven by events, so we see how the history of slavery, the lack of choices for women and men of color, the fight for equality, and the satisfaction of a life well-lived affect those who lived it.

But the real pleasure of this play is the skill and chemistry between cast members—all of whom are making their Celebration Arts debut in this production. Director James Wheatley has assembled a talented group of actors who not only capture the essence of each of their characters throughout their lifetimes, but also work as a seamless blend.

Eliza Hendrix as Sadie is a joy to watch as she captures the spirit of a woman struggling to find herself, and in the roles she lives as a sister to Nella (Jamie Jackson, who lights up the stage), a wife to Macon (Noah Hayes, in a wonderfully layered performance), and as a daughter and a mother (Bridget Brooks-Mack, lovely playing both parts).

The scene changes need to be tightened up a bit so momentum isn’t lost, and more Gospel singers onstage would be great, but overall, this production warms like a well-worn quilt.