By Koko McDowell
1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas at New Village Arts in Carlsbad, CA was not what I expected, it was better. Being new to local productions, my family and I kept an open mind to a production that states the obvious in its title, considering the cast was mostly black. Little did we know, the last name of the family was also Black, and we loved how they addressed that pun at the end of the show.
New Village Arts Theatre is a quaint establishment that allows for an intimate setting for all in attendance. Every seat had an excellent view of the stage, which allowed you to see every aspect of the production. The lighting and sound were appropriate for the space and transitioned well from person to person and focal point to focal point. I appreciated hearing the utterance of emotions during touching moments that could have easily been missed in a larger setting.
It is obvious the cast of 1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas are comfortable performing with one another. The chemistry between the couples came across authentic and their interactions with each other was natural and appropriate in their roles. The dynamics between James Jr. and Javier was very appropriate and realistic, as well. Despite their differences and family make-up, they were brothers and had respect for each other. Dorothy, a typical overbearing mother, did a great job depicting how challenging relationships are with adult momma’s boys who are stuck in their childish ways. She also did a great job characterizing the typical unwarranted disrespect towards her daughter-in-law. I loved how Aadya’s character gelled with each character in the play. She had a subtle presence, although her vocal skills were heavenly and stood out from the rest. Lizzie’s character brought the right amount of humor at appropriate moments throughout the play. She, and her husband, had us cracking up. Also, watching the interactions between she and her sister, Dorothy, reminded me of me and my sister. Victor and Brian also brought added humor to the play and their characters really filled out the storyline.
At the beginning of the play there was a flashback that set the stage for what was to come. I applaud the writing and production team for creating a seamless transition from present day to the past and back again. My 12-year-old was able to understand that there was a flashback, when it began and when it ended. Also, it was refreshing to learn that the city the Black family lived in was local and not New York, Atlanta, or some far away city one would expect a production for a black family to be from. My family and I were proud to not only recognize, but know the local cities referenced.
Overall, I would highly recommend 1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas. In a day and age when kids would rather stare at their phones than see a live show, my son thoroughly enjoyed the show. He laughed, asked a few questions, and understand a few of the life lessons addressed. There were a few sexual innuendos, but nothing compared to what is on television these days.
1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas will make you laugh and smile, while addressing the social injustices our society is currently facing today. Dea Hurston did a beautiful job of depicting family values in such a diverse world. Ultimately, regardless of religious beliefs, we must love our family for who they are.
Upon exiting the theatre, it was such a blessing to see the Dea Hurston in the lobby. It was our honor to congratulate her on a job well done along with so many others.
