Shiloh Church in Oakland, CA, does a performance the week before Christmas every year. This year's production is entitled Great Expectations, not to be confused with the film or any other work of that name.
As always, this year's cast, musicians, singers and dancers were exemplary for a non-professional troupe (see credits below). But as is standard, the performance style is not one that befits a large segment of the population.
I find the vignette style distracting. The hip-hop approach is not to my liking. And the "urban narration" (done by Nneka Anyanwu) is frankly offensive—it is a caricature depiction of a very stereotyped young, ghetto woman.
I understand what a church that celebrates its diversity is striving for here. They have narration of the beginning of Luke that alternates between a stuffy, formal (read: Victorian-era white) style, regular speech and urban. But the urban depiction is particularly unflattering.
It should be noted that it seems to work for an audience that is probably half African-American. Maybe I am too uptight, but I do not find such depictions to be funny, but feel they further ignorance.
However, the production did an excellent job of doing the same thing later when alternating between a black Baptist, Spanish-speaking and African (sorry, I do not know the language) preacher. And it was actually funny without being offensive.
The rest of the performance also celebrated the church's diversity. The dancing included ballet, hip-hop and classic influences, sometimes choreographed simultaneously in wonderful tandem. There was poetry, speech and recounting of Biblical tales.
Costumes, set and lighting were simple but effective. The music leaned heavily on choral but had modern moments, and was all performed very well.
The performance follows a brief period of worship and supplants the sermon for the service. The last service is at noon Sunday, December 18, 2011.
Cast: Patrick Miller, Lomika Sojourner, Marques Dumalo, Andre Phillips, Ingrid Jeffers, Brooklyn Haynes, Ben McClure, La'Shay Morris, Bahar Chitsaz, Nneka Amyanwu, Abraham, Emmanuel AkuAku, Patricia Rehn, Jules Moore, Charles Osivwemu and Larry Price, Jr.
Dancers and choreographers: Teresa Humphreys, Stephanie Hyland, Patrica Rehn, Leanna Scott, Tola Afoloyan and the Shiloh Dance Team.
Musicians: Nathan Humphreys, Jr., Nathan Humphreys, Sr., Elijah Humphreys, Ignacio Buenrostro, Semaj Miller.
Stage, sound and media crew: Melina Esquilin, E.J. Peecher, Angelina Luster, Shanice Williams and Jeralyn Dayon.
Production team: Dawn Humphreys, Laneshia Kinloch, Melina Esquilin, Teresa Humphreys, Tola Afoloyan, Stephanie Hyland, Leanna Scott and Patricia Rehn.
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