“Retrograde”, A Gripping Drama on Sidney Poitier’s Struggle Against White Hollywood and Politics

…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.

Retrograde is a play written by Ryan Calais Cameron, which portrays the story of Sidney Poitier, who stood against the paranoid forces of the white 1950s Hollywood and the American political establishment.

The story unfolds in real-time over 90 minutes and is written in a heightened, brutal form of classic, snappy movie dialogue.

The play has been directed by Amit Sharma and stars Ivanno Jeremiah, who delivers an outstanding performance as Poitier.

Commentary:

The play is a timely tribute to Sidney Poitier, who passed away a year before its release, and to his friend and fellow campaigner for equality, Harry Belafonte, who died in the same week.

The play highlights the shifting power dynamics in the entertainment industry and the struggle faced by black artists and activists in the 1950s.

It also addresses complex moral issues, such as the compromise required to shift the progressive dial and the thin line between white allyship and white savior complex.

Although Retrograde is a compelling play, it is not perfect.

The character of Parks is overwritten and shifts from hyperactive bonhomie to a sinister threat, which seems credible only if you fully buy into the heightened nature of the dialogue.

Bobby’s character is underwritten, and at times the play gets carried away with the snap and crackle of dialogue and strays into pastiche.

However, the director Amit Sharma has done an excellent job of capturing the pace and pulse of the writing.

The physical appearance of Ivanno Jeremiah may not resemble that of Sidney Poitier, but he captures the essence of Poitier’s rangy grace, clipped diction, and fiery stare.

His performance is outstanding, especially in the late speech where he wavers on a knife edge between magnificence and sententiousness.

In conclusion, Retrograde is a well-written play that highlights the struggles of black artists and activists in the 1950s entertainment industry.

The play is a tribute to Sidney Poitier, and Ivanno Jeremiah delivers an outstanding performance as Poitier.

Although the play has some flaws, it is a compelling drama that is well worth seeing.

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