The American Civil Rights Movement is filled with untold or forgotten stories, particularly those of the women who played such an important part in making it all happen. One particularly fascinating story is of the so-called “Cadillac crews,” in which carloads of Black and white women drove around the American South talking with women in their living rooms about standing up for themselves and integrating their communities.
Vermont Stage Company will present “Cadillac Crew,” Tori Simpson’s searing and often humorous tribute to these forgotten women, Sept. 27-Oct. 15, at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington.
“Tori Sampson has written a moving and thoughtful portrait of the overlooked contributions of African American women to the Civil Rights movement,” explained VSC Artistic Director Cristina Alicea.
“African American women were often leading the charge within their communities to gain equal rights, yet their efforts have been largely excluded from history books. This play pays homage to these great women while asking important questions about why they were forgotten.”
At first, Jammie Patton, who starred in 2017’s “The Cal,” with Vermont Stage, wondered why Alicea had asked her to direct.
“She said she kept reading it and every time she read it she thought of me,” Patton said between rehearsals. “Why me? I read it and thought this makes sense.
“I went to a historically Black college, Howard University,” she said. “Also, it’s an all-woman cast, and it’s very much about women’s empowerment. It’s not just an all-women cast, it’s about powerful, very opinionated women.”
In fact, in addition to Howard, Patton graduated from the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University. She has directed at Shadowlands Stages in Ellenville, New York, the Women of Color Playwright’s Festival at the Henry Street Settlement Theater and the Negro Ensemble Company, and Northern Stage in White River Junction, among many.
When “Cadillac Crew” opens, it’s 1963 and in the thick of the Civil Rights Movement. At a Virginia field office, four underpaid women — three Black and one white — are preparing for a visit by the legendary Rosa Parks, who is to speak about the abuse and rape of Black women.
The atmosphere in the office is lighthearted, downright fun even, until the women are notified that those in power intend set aside Parks in favor of a “more appropriate” male speaker. Their response ranges from unhappy acquiescence to blind rage.
After some very contentious discussion, some quite funny, they decide to a one — eventually — that they must stand up and take their own places in the Civil Rights Movement.
Rather than a severe history lesson, “Cadillac Crew” enjoys the deep humor of its characters, their follies and their courage.
“One of the things that turns me off, a lot of plays about the Civil Rights Movement or about slavery are didactic,” Patton said. “No one wants to sit there and get a history lesson. And everything is black and white — it’s all good or it’s all bad. It was much more intricate.”
Key to the play’s richness is its characters and, in particular, the formidable Rachel in charge of the office.
“I really like Rachel because she’s dynamic. She comes off as a very strong woman and she knows what she wants,” Patton said. “Then we see a chink in her armor, and you can see all this vulnerability. So that’s nice to see — it’s not ‘Oh, strong Black woman!’ She comes off as having an agenda, and she’s also gay — and that time, being Black and gay. It is actually never said — but the fact that the seed was actually planted, that there’s some doubt is high stakes.
“She’s also very much a supporter of tradition,” Patton said. “She doesn’t want to go against the patriarchy that’s set in place — but she knows it’s wrong. So, I think there’s a battle there.”
What proves fascinating is how the characters change — due to circumstances, and to their relationships with each other.
Abby is young and feisty, and has a secret — even from the others. Sarah, the white one, also has a secret involving Rachel — in fact, secrets.
“The biggest change for me I see is in Dee,” Patton said. “She supports the patriarchy — men are meant to lead, women can’t be the ‘foot on the neck’ of the men who are trying to lead. But by the end — I don’t know if it’s even change — she reveals herself.
“I don’t want to give away what we’re doing in the play, but we physicalize the 180 that she’s done,” Patton said. “We do it with lights and costumes. You will see Dee grow.”
The challenge for Patton, and why the play isn’t produced more often, is the jump from 1963 to present time.
“It’s very jarring for the audience if it’s not done in a way you can suspend your disbelief,” Patton said. “But luckily Vermont Stage has a great design team — so we’re doing some really wonderful things with lights and sound. And I think it’s going to work.
“And I think people are going to enjoy how we do it,” Patton said. “It’s very cre--ative — but I won’t give it away.”
jim.lowe@timesargus.com / jim.lowe@rutlandherald.com
Vermont Stage Vermont Stage Company presents “Cadillac Crew,” a tribute to the forgotten women in the Civil Rights Movement by Tori Sampson, Sept. 27-Oct. 15, at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, 60 Lake St. in Burlington. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, with 2 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday. “Pick Your Price” single tickets begin at only $24; subscriptions start at $69; call 802-862-1497, or go online to www.vermontstage.org
