From the Detroit Free Press: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: A Theatre of Color: Costume Design for the Black Theatre by Myrna Colley-Lee Born in North Carolina, Myrna Colley-Lee has had a long and important career in costume design. Curated by Shirley Reiff Howarth, this modest exhibition brings together scores of photographs and production drawings with original costumes from nine productions over the last 30 years. Colley-Lee’s costumes are marvelously rendered and constructed, whether bringing a Nigerian village to life in Wole Soyinka’s Lion and the Jewel or capturing the urban chic of the ’60s in a modish blouse for Elizabeth Gregory’s Gee’s Bend. The interesting if unstated subtext concerns the themes of the black theater running through works by James Baldwin, August Wilson, Bridgette Wimberly and others — tension between tradition and social change, the complexities of the black church, cultural assimilation, identity and more. There’s a film interview with Colley-Lee, but the show would have benefited from greater ambition and more multimedia elements, especially video of the productions. (Through Sept. 4) 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 315 E. Warren, Detroit. 313-494-5800. thewright.org . $8, $5 seniors and ages 3-5; free for members and ages 2 and younger. #awf14
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 16:26:18 +0000