Fighting to make & change history
I'd been hearing amazing things about The Milwaukee Rep's The Royale for weeks and finally got the chance to see it. Spoiler alert: It's worth every bit of the buzz. On its surface, this is a play about boxing. Jay Jackson (played by David St. Louis) is a black man and heavyweight champion in the early 1900s who doesn't just want to be considered the best black boxer, but the best boxer, period. He and his team arrange a fight with the now-retired reigning heavyweight champ — a white man, of course.
With this fight comes a media frenzy (such as it was in the early 1900s) and a tidal wave of clashing opinions on the subject of a black man trying to take the title from the white champ. Like I said, on the surface The Royale is the story of a boxer — but it's much, much more so a story of race in the Jim Crow era.
In the first half of the show, I found myself convinced that this duel between black and white could only be a great thing. Jackson would naturally win, that win would be broadcast on radios across America and make the front page, and Jackson would go down in history as the best, period, paving the way for other black athletes. While it's true that's what happened to the real-life man Jay Jackson is based on, The Royale reminds us that progress is not all sunshine and strides forward — there's violent backlash, too.
To be honest, I'd forgotten to consider that violent backlash until Jay Jackson's sister Nina (played by Sade Moore) comes to see him. Moore delivers a seriously moving and impassioned plea, striking blows with the heat of her words. She begs Jay to lose the fight, saying that there will be trouble across the country if he doesn't. Already Nina's family has received threats, and brawls have broken out between black and white men over the very fact of the fight — brawls that ended with those black men hung from lampposts. Such violence, and Jay Jackson has yet to even be crowned the champ.
I don't want to give too much away, as there's a little twist near the end that is so imaginative, I'd rather you experience for yourself. But I can tell you that Jay wrestles with his reasons for wanting this win — for fame and glory, to prove to himself he's the best there is, and to set black athletes and people on a path to equality. David St. Louis gives a powerhouse performance — heated and affecting from start to finish. I also have to give a shout out to Xavier Scott Evans, who plays Jackson's young sparring partner. His performance is utterly charming and heartbreaking — a lethal combo on my fragile emotional balance. Warning: There may be tears, so bring kleenex.
And any piece written about The Royale cannot end before singing the highest praises of the overall production and staging. The set, the lighting, the sounds — it's an absolute marvel! Of course there's boxing in the show, but a punch is never thrown in the ring. Instead, the action is portrayed through innovative choreography: escalating rhythmic stomps and synchronized claps. Stage lights blindingly flash with every punch that lands.
Outside of the ring, flashbulbs from turn-of-the-century cameras burst at the stage, as if the audience were a pack of reporters at a press conference. Even in silence, there seems to be a low humming noise, fueling our anticipation. Artful shadows add dimension and story to the walls of the theater. It's like every nuance has been considered for a fully immersed, sensory experience. Milwaukee theater fans, The Royale is a can't-miss.
The Royale is playing at the Milwaukee Rep now through November 6th. Information and tickets at milwaukeerep.com.
