Burning Coal and TÉA Artistry's Must-See Production of Being Chaka Is Phenomenal: Entertaining, Enlightening, Educational, Motivating, and Uplifting
By Kurt Benrud, Triangle Review
Cutting to the chase: Being Chaka is phenomenal! It checks all of the boxes that I consider essential for quality theater -- it's entertaining, enlightening, educational, and motivating. As a bonus, it checks the "optional" box: uplifting.
Burning Coal Theatre Company has partnered with TÉA Artistry to produce Being Chaka. The script was written by Tara Amber, Chuk Obasi, & Nalini Sharma of TÉA Artistry. This production is directed by Vieve Radha Price and Chuk Obasi, with production stage manager Julianna Frasca.
English teachers would classify Being Chaka as a "coming-of-age story," but it is quite deeper, much richer, and (yes) more diverse than any story classified as such that I can recall. This is not only because there is evidence of change in every one of the characters, but also because the play insists that true "being" is ideally a dynamic state of "becoming," and that it is in everyone's best interest for all of us to continue to "become." The issue of identity is explored from a multitude of perspectives, including personal, cultural, racial, social, and economic identity, and the issues of ownership and appropriation emerge.
In addition, the script is rife with parallels as various characters undergo similar and contrasting experiences, thereby refining our impressions of the events.