Fly Soars into The Rep

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African-American military pilots who fought in World War II, They were the first African American military aviators in the US Armed Forces. The airmen were subjected to discrimination, both within the army as much of the US Military was segregated, and, being in the Jim Crow South, from without.

The Capital Rep takes its audience on a soaring 90 minute ride back in history. Based on the true stories of the airmen, we meet Oscar (Trevor McGhie) J. Allen from the West Indies, (Yao Dogbe) W.W. (Calvin Thompson), and Chet (Jeremiah Packer) to whom we are introduced on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on the day of the inauguration of Barack Obama. Chet is our narrator and revisits his time in the corp through a series of flashbacks. The four men serve as our guides as they are trained to become part of the elite Tuskegee Airmen. Some will become pilots, some will not, some will live and some will die.

The ensemble includes four additional performers Torsten Hillhouse as Capt. O’Hurley, Shayne David Cameris, Bomber Pilot Reynolds and Ryan Fuchs, Bomber Co-Pilot Shaw. These three actors are white and act as the stereotypes of the greater parts of America at the time… those who believe in segregation, those who do not see color, and those who question what black men are doing flying airplanes in the army. Throughout the play, we feel their change in attitude emotion, and education. Across the board, the performances of the seven are stellar solid and the very best of ensemble acting.

Omar Edwards fills the shoes, literally of the eighth performer, The Tap Griot. A Griot is a West African musician or storyteller who orally recounts, the history of a village, a family, etc… Edwards recounts the story of the airmen in tap. He acts as the background for the men’s story, particularly Chet, expressing his emotions of anger, hate, built-up resentment unbridled joy, and love through tap dance. This Tap Dance Griot is the heart and soul of the production, immediately my mind went to modern-day rappers which, it turns out, is their genesis. Edwards’s mastery of dance alone is worth the time spent in the theatre. It is Edwards who takes the audience on the journey in a lyricism of poetry of motion. The emotion of each of the characters is so intensely portrayed through his dance you can almost follow the entire story by watching just him.

Co-written by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan, director Clinton Turner Davis gently, yet firmly guides us through this telling moving, and important story. In collaboration with the story and equally important to the production are the technical elements of the show which make the entire project col lase. Large video screens create Beowulf Boritts’ unique set design and act as the backbone for Nathan W. Scheuers’ projections which literally take us from the heights of battle at 30,000 feet to the barracks and classrooms on the Tuskegee army base. John Gromada’s sound and Rob Denton’s lighting finish out the creation of this most unique experience.

Fly is a journey that will have you soaring from your seats with these men. You will live their joy and frustration, anger, pain, and the elation they experienced. It is a journey not to be missed. Book your seats and buckle in for an adventure of a lifetime.

At a time when the theatre is struggling to return to the life it once knew, The Rep is particularly thrilled that 3 of their 4 lead actors will earn their equity cards from this performance. Go… applaud their talent, encourage their tenacity to return, and help bring the arts back to life in the Capital Region.

Fly runs through February 20. The Rep 251 North Pearl St. Albany adheres to all COVID rules, you must show proof of vaccination and be masked throughout your time in the theatre. For more information go to www.capitalrep.org or call 518-445-7469.