Raisin the curtain of diversity

Learning about the past can improve what we do in the present.

Charles Dumas, director of the show, brought Frances Foster in to play the role of Mama in the production. Foster played the much younger Ruth in the original Broadway production in 1958 when the show won the New York Drama Critic's Circle Award for best play of the season.

The play centers around the struggles of a black family. It explores issues such as sacrifice, trust, pride, liberation and love. It also acts as a landmark in theater history because it was one of the first written, directed and performed solely by blacks.

Although the play is looked upon as a black play, it is universally relevant because the family struggles with issues all Americans face -- no matter what race.

Foster's presence has been a positive influence for everyone involved in the show.

"She is walking theater history," said Cynthia Baldessare, who plays Ruth. "She provides tremendous insight into the character of Ruth, so she has been a valuable resource of information for me."

Foster brings a very unique insight to the production rarely available in a college production, Dumas said.

"She gives us a total historical sense of the show because she was there from the beginning," he said.

And the beginning wasn't easy according to Foster.

"No one wanted to put their money into this play because they didn't think it would go," she said. "That was a problem because the producers had to raise the money."

In 1958, A Raisin in the Sun started in New Haven, Conn., where it drew critical acclaim. The play moved to Philadelphia where it continued to receive high praise. Even though critics dubbed it a quality show, there weren't any theaters on Broadway available for quite in which it could be presented.

When A Raisin in the Sun was finally shown on Broadway, it was an instant success. It has become a landmark in theater history because it was the first play about blacks that portrayed them honestly.

"You never saw plays about black people because they thought all we could do was sing and dance," Foster said. "That's why the black people loved it so, because we finally saw ourselves represented on stage truthfully."

The success of A Raisin in the Sun opened many doors for blacks to portray serious, respectable characters. Some blacks such as Doug E. Doug, who stars in the recently released That Darn Cat, are still criticized for portraying the silly, clown-like characters blacks were forced to play in the past. Foster said the criticism is a sign of progress.

"It's ironic because we've now gotten to the point where we can make choices," she said. "My thing is that I won't do anything my grandchildren would be ashamed of."

Foster's resume, both on Broadway and in film, is anything but shameful. Some of her recent works include The Juror, Clockers, Crooklyn and Malcolm X. Even though she has been on Broadway and in feature films, she is living out a dream in A Raisin in the Sun.

"When I got older I always said I wanted to play Mama," Foster said. "She's strong, not educated, but very bright. People think you have to go to college to be educated, but it's not true."