Directed by Layla J. Williams, produced by Princeton University, and written by Daniel Beaty, the one-man show “Emergency” wraps up the Princeton Summer Theater’s season. Harrison-Williams cleverly portrays over 40 characters before, while, and after a slave ship arrives in modern-day New York City. “Emergency” powerfully displays the viewpoints of diverse people who share their unique testimonies on their identities and freedom by honestly reflecting a prism of black existence.

When the stage’s middle spotlight turns on, the audience knows that the play has begun. Harrison-Williams walks out from backstage wearing the one costume he wears throughout the whole play: a navy blue polo shirt, beige pants, black shoes, and a black jacket with wings on the back. As he walks out, the crowd applauds as the “APPLAUSE” signs on opposite sides of the stage light up. On cue, Williams begins playing out his first character of a boy whose father gets discovered on the slave ship that arrives in the city later in the play. The boy is intelligent, for he had won an award for a poem he had written. While on the award stage, his phone rings, informing him about the finding of his father on the ship. This is how the play begins.

Throughout the play, Harrison transforms into a multitude of characters. One second, he is the boy, and the next second, he is the dad. The third second he is a woman who is interviewed on the streets. Like a lightbulb switching on and off, Harrison switches from one character to the next swiftly as he changes his tone, accent, movements, and facial expressions. One of his characters is a girl who expresses her longing for friends as she is lonely with no one by her side because of the identity she holds. He captures the audience’s hearts as his eyes sparkle with tears and his lips quiver with sadness. Two tears drop beautifully straight down his cheeks, and immediately, the audience is silent in tears.

“Emergency” is a play that shouts out the various voices that are unheard in current society. One’s outward appearance is not the only determinant of a person’s identity. Everyone is “more than they think they are,” as claimed by the father found on the slave ship. It seems as if it is hard for modern society to accept everyone from all backgrounds. One of the over 40 characters shouts out, “This is an emergency…” and “In this constant state of emergency, we must wake up and dream.”

In 90 minutes, the audience was taken on a journey of rediscovery of the black identity in all its scope - helping to redefine a new way forward through the past. To go forward, you must go back.

<Roanne Jubee Lee North Hollywood High School 12th gra>