Dream on Monkey Mountain is an intoxicating journey into Caribbean cultural identity, while shedding light on those oppressed by colonial rules and the clash of West Indian and English cultures. Dream on Monkey Mountain follows the story of Makak, an old man, who has spent his whole life alone, high atop Monkey Mountain. His life is spun upside down, when one night of dreams forces Makak off the mountain and on a spiritual journey to Africa. His only friend, Moustique, who watches as Makak becomes a sort of mystic faith healer, accompanies Makak reluctantly. Makak is seen as either a visionary or a lunatic, something this dreamlike production leaves intentionally undefined. The complexity of this work leads you to wonder "what is real and what is fantasy"? Dream on Monkey Mountain was originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1967 and is considered to be Derek Wolcott's most ambitious play, winning him an Obie Award for a distinguished foreign play in 1971.
Dream on Monkey Mountain features Michael Anthony Adams (Detroit), Gregory Alford (Detroit), Andre Anton (West Bloomfield), Anton B. Asuquo (Detroit), Kelli Bonner (Detroit), Samuel Brice (Detroit), Michael Covington (Detroit), Donnie Daggett (Detroit), Henri D. Franklin (Southfield), April Haire (Inkster), Thomas Leonard Harris (Phoenix, AZ), Jasmine McCord (Detroit), Brishen Miller (Kalamazoo), Baseemah Mustafaa (Pontiac), Katerina Paskaris (Dearborn), LaVenia Scott (Detroit), Janee Smith (Detroit), Sarah Switanowski (Warren), Mark Trotter (Birmingham), Manu Wells (Detroit), Renell White (Detroit),and Deborah Joy Winans (Detroit).
Jerry Cleveland, director of the Black Theatre Program and best director nominee for the Detroit Free Press Theatre Excellence award in 2003 for his production of No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs, directs the play. Linda Cleveland Simmons, an Assistant Professor in Dance and Director of the WSU Dance Company, will choreograph the production. Linda Cleveland Simmons is also a recipient of the 2003 Arts Achievement Award. Dream on Monkey Mountain will be performed at the Bonstelle Theatre on Jan. 23-25 and Jan. 30, 31 and February 1, 2004.
Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. Bonstelle Theatre tickets are $10 full price and $8 for students, seniors and Wayne State University faculty, staff and Alumni Association members. For tickets, call the box office at (313) 577-2960.
Contact: Beth Thibault
Voice: (248) 542-5570