THEATRE REVIEW: "Covenant" at The Black Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (New York, NY)

    

      On the afternoon of December 16th, 2023, I saw a performance of "Covenant" at the Black Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre in New York City.  "Covenant" was written by York Walker, and directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene.  This was a World Premiere Production, and began previews October 5th, 2023.  Having officially opened on October 26th, it was originally scheduled to play until December 3rd.  However, due to popular demand, the production was extended twice.  The final closing date was December 17th (the day after I got to see the show).  

Theatre Program for "Covenant."

    Initially, I was supposed to see "Covenant" on October 21st, 2023.  My mom even bought me a ticket to that performance.  However, there were weather (and mud) related factors that prevented me from getting to the city that day.  Lucky for me, tickets weren't too expensive, so I got to see "Covenant" on December 16th.  I am glad I did.  "Covenant" was interesting, suspenseful, and unpredictable.  That says a lot.  This was a one-act play, without an intermission.  Yet it still managed to hold my attention for the most part.

View of the stage from my seat.

     Now, by "for the most part,"  I mean I periodically thought about having to wait for the crowded elevator after the show.  An elevator takes the audience down to the theatre before the show, and back up to street-level after the show.  There were stairs, but they were roped off.  So, after the cast took their bows, I darted out of the theatre, and through the theatre lobby so I could be on the first elevator ride up.  Now, that's thinking!  I don't mean to imply the show wasn't interesting.  If anything, the show was so suspenseful and intense, I thought about the elevator as a welcome distraction. 

Flyer for the show, printed before the closing performance was rescheduled to December 17th.

     The cast of "Covenant" included Crystal Dickinson (Mama), Chaundre Hall-Broomfield (Johnny "Honeycomb" James), Ashley N. Hildreth (Violet), Jade Payton (Avery), and Lark White (Ruthie).  Lawrence Moten was the scenic designer.  Steve Cuiffo was in charge of "illusions."  I wonder if a particular illusion was larger in magnitude, would it be called an "illusion of grandeur?"  Since "Covenant" has a lot to do with making deals with the devil (or does it?), surely grandiosity plays into the illusions... 

Window Card for "Covenant," with up-to-date closing date.

      The theme that revisits itself in "Covenant" can be summarized by the first line of the play...:  "Everybody got a secret."  Whether that is true or not, it sure makes everyone sound human.  What makes "Covenant" such an unsettling play is that the secrets of the five characters result in such nightmarish consequences.  As far as the synopsis, "Covenant" is basically about a blues singer in the 1930's who returns to his small Georgia hometown where he encounters speculation about how he achieved fame.  More specifically, he is believed by some to have made a deal with the Devil.  As the intricacies of this complex play are revealed in 95 minutes, it becomes apparent that those who started the rumor have made a deal of their own.  

Reverse side of flyer for "Covenant."

      While it would have been preferable to see this show around Halloween, I'm grateful I got to see it at all.  I suppose I wasn't meant to see "Covenant" on October 21st.  Also, if I had seen it then, I would have felt obligated not to give too much away in this blog post.  For example... one of my favorite parts of "Covenant" was when an object went flying across the stage like a curveball.  One of the most predictable parts of "Covenant" was when the cross on the wall turned upside-down.  I can't say I knew it was going to happen.  But given the subject matter of the play, it simply lacked shock value.  Also, there is an inverted cross on the program cover.  Aside from these instances of predictability, I was shocked and startled plenty of times.  While this production was sold-out for the rest of the limited run, I would gladly recommend the play should other productions of it spring up elsewhere... or if it transfers to Broadway.  Also, if I learned one thing from "Covenant," it would be to fear the unknown more than I already do.

Lark White, Ashley N. Hildreth, and Jade Payton in "Covenant."  Photo by Joan Marcus.