Selma Burke was a creator. She created sculpture, a learning environment, and a legacy. The public isn’t aware of her, but playwrights Maria Crooks and Caroline Russell-King are trying to change that. Theatre Calgary has teamed up with Alberta Theatre Projects to bring Crooks and Russell-King’s words to life in the world premiere of Selma Burke. This production doesn’t just bring words to life, it brings Selma’s work to life. The playincludes about a hundred characters that are shared by 3 artists, with Christopher Hunt embodying 70 characters, Heather Pattengale portraying 14, and Christopher Clare playing six. Some of those characters are Burke’s works of art. This allows the production to flourish as this theatricality is what makes the production so compelling.
Selma Burke is not an autobiography but more of a theatrical telling of Burke’s colourful life and love. We span the years of her multiple marriages and professional career, from going to art school to producing work for presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt. She has been argued to be the rightful source of his image on the American dime instead of John R. Sinnock.
It is also revealed that she was married four times. We see her with almost all of these partners and how she grows and regresses throughout her life.
Norma Lewis’ performance of Burke is nuanced and dynamic. She doesn’t miss a beat in portraying Burke’s desire to be seen and to create, but also her guilt and shame about not fighting for black people, as she is constantly pressured by her on again, off again husband (Christopher Clare). It’s Lewis’ talent that makes Selma Burke such an intriguing story to witness. Pattengale and Hunt mostly make up the sculptures that Burke creates and their versatility and ability to embody their characters and bring out their human-ness is something that shines in this production. Christopher Clare also takes on the challenge of portraying Martin Luther King Jr., among other noteworthy characters, and he is marvelous.
Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg captures this production’s joy and challenges and brings them to the forefront. It is hard not to fall in love with Hanne Loosen’s set design, an all-angled construction coupled with Brendan Briceland’s projection design, which brings the background to life. Tim Rodrigues’ lighting design helps differentiate sculptures from human beings, illuminating the shifts in location throughout the play. Adedoké Taiwo’s costume design is innovative and allows distinction between sculpture and human being.
Selma Burke is a dynamic show, telling the story of a creative artist that we should all recognize. I’m glad she’s finally getting her due.
Theatre Calgary and Alberta Theatre Projects’ production of Selma Burke runs until April 27th. More information is available online.
Photo: (l to r) Heather Pattengale, Christopher Hunt, Norma Lewis. Credit: Trudie Lee.