By ADAM CROWE
A Seat on the Aisle
Indianapolis’ Fonseca Theatre Company is presenting tj loves sally 4 ever by James Ijames as a part of its Season of Choices. The playwright, also an actor and scholar, won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for his version of Hamlet called Fat Ham.
tj loves sally 4 ever isn’t quite on that same level of writing, but it contains lots of interesting ideas and chews thoroughly on most of them. TJ and Sally are a Dean and a student at Commonwealth of Virginia University. They are also inheritors to Thomas Jefferson and slave Sally Hemmings. Sally serves frequently as our narrator, and Ijames gives her lots to talk about in terms of “inheritance” and personal agency.
Chandra Lynch as Sally and Eric Bryant as TJ in a scene from tj loves sally 4 ever. (Photo by Ankh Productions)
Sexual harassment and social justice are also important themes. Ijames’ style here is not about presenting a straightforward story, but rather an anarchic jumble of scenes and thoughts that keep the audience off its guard. When this works, as it almost always does when Sally and her Sorority Sisters are onstage, it is enlightening and entertaining. Other scenes, however, feel like sketches rather than complete ideas. Only Sally feels like a living, breathing human, and TJ often falls on the sketch end of the spectrum.
Director Josiah Ray McCruiston’s cast holds up to the author’s acrobatics. As Sally, Chandra Lynch shines. The audience hangs on her every thought and discovery. Shandrea Funnye and Avery Elise as students Annette and Pam are terrific support. Ijames has given actor Eric Bryant a difficult task with the character of TJ, as he remains more a collection of attitudes and bad ideas. Finally, Atiyyah Radford is only given a bit more foundation for his portrayal of student Harold.
Technical aspects were all solid. Kristopher D. Steege’s scenic design is evocative and eminently practical. Ben Dobler’s sound and Joy Caroline Mills’ lighting were equally on point, as were the costumes by Tony Sirk.
Bottom line: despite some tonal inconsistencies, tj loves sally 4 ever features performances and ideas that are worthy of your time and attention. And don’t let some heavy themes fool you. This play is very funny, especially when the ladies hold forth.
tj loves sally 4 ever by James Ijames runs through Sunday, Aug. 6 at the Fonseca Theatre, 2508 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis. Tickets and further information can be found at FonsecaThreatre.org or by calling (317) 653-1519.
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