Playwright: McKinley Johnson; score by McKinley Johnson, David Taylor and Marshall Titus. At: Open Door Repertory Company at Hatch Auditorium, 1000 N. Ridgeland, Oak Park. Phone: 708-802-1723; $15-$18. Runs through: March 15. Photo courtesy of Open Door Repertory Company
It's obvious that the life of openly gay African-American civil-rights activist Bayard Rustin would have dramatic potential as a musical. After all, music played a vital part in galvanizing people together during the civil-rights movement of the 1960s.
Yet there's an organizational problem to Eye of the Storm, Open Door Repertory Company's new musical about Rustin and his struggles with racism and homophobia. Eye of the Storm authors McKinley Johnson, David Taylor and Marshall Titus are all clearly inspired by Rustin and his bravery, but their show's odd dramatic structure doesn't make it easy going.
Eye of the Storm begins as gay activist Walter Naegle ( Ryan Lanning, in very fey mode ) gets emotional when he faces a failing proposal to rename a high school in Rustin's honor in Westchester, Penn.
Naegle pleads to the heavens for courage and guidance, which brings prominent African-American leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ( Jon Pierce ) , the NAACP's Roy Wilkins ( Orlando Daniel Thompson ) , union organizer Randolph Johnson ( Asa Phillip Randolph ) , U.S. Rep. Adam Clayton Powell ( Titus ) and Rustin himself ( Renardo Johnson ) all back to life in some sort of netherworld where they reluctantly relive the past ( often pleading to an unseen Madame History ) .
These leaders spar over their differing NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference alliances, with Rustin being major point of contention. Though Rustin's preaching of non-violent protest proves to be extremely effective, some still demand Rustin to keep a low profile due to his one-time membership in the Communist Party and for his reluctance to hide his sexuality.
There's no doubt that Eye of the Storm's authors have thoroughly researched their material, but it often gets bogged down by too much telling of facts instead of showing them. The haphazard structure of multiple narrators and time-lurching flashbacks give the show a patchwork quality that lacks a clear vision.
On the plus side, Eye of the Storm has an entertaining score of doo wop, blues and gospel ( expertly arranged by music director Jaret Williams ) , which is sung with stylistic aplomb by the enterprising cast in multiple roles. Even without applause buttons at the ends, the songs do a great job of expressing the characters' passion and emotional temperature.
Johnson also does extra duty as director, keeping the staging stark and simple. ( Stevan Saliny's set design consists of a few stretched scrims for silhouette effects and carried-on furniture. )
While Eye of the Storm could use more work on its narrative structure, it does do its part to help keep the memory of Rustin alive. And of all the figures of the civil-rights movement, Rustin is certainly deserving of more attention nowadays with LGBT rights coming to the fore.