Orionna Brumfield
Staff Writer
Prince Duren’s stage play “Like Fine Wine” proves that all things get better with time.
Duren worked on producing his play for almost a year before the show debuted on Sept. 25 at the Jackson State University Rose E. McCoy Auditorium and continued until Sept. 29. Cast members included: Dylan Fleming, Na’Tosha Devon, Britney Nicole Williams, Joseph Hender-son, Jonathan Rosser, and Breanna Hunter.
Fleming, a speech communications major from Tickfaw La., played Caleb “Sax” Sanders as an older man with lost dreams. Rosser played Sander’s old friend Sylvester “Sly” Robinson, who visits him as a birthday surprise.
Unfortunately, Sly only reminds Sanders of his lost dreams after he reminisces about the past. This play was a true example of how life will change the plans of things. The play details how Sander’s plans change towards the way he wants to live out the rest of his life.
Regina, Sander’s wife, views life in a very realistic way. She accepts things as routine, and she never expects the unexpected and is not pleased that Robinson’s visit has brought about a change in her husband. Although she was not the most positive person to be around, she por-trayed a strong wife, mother, and grandmother for her family.
Regina Sanders is played by Devon; a speech communications major from Chicago, Ill. Devon admitted that she had to use a strategy to portray her role.
“My character was the total opposite of myself and I had to do everything I wouldn’t do to make her come alive,” said Devon.
Not only are dreams on hold in this play, but lost time is also a major component.
Hunter, a theater major from Kansas City, Mo., plays Dedra Jones. Jones is a career ori-entated lady who has been secretly waiting on her true love for over 25 years. She cannot get past her experiences as a sixteen year old girl. When she encounters Sly, she is shocked. Al-though Sly never left her mind, she never thought she would see him again after his sudden dis-appearance. Jones’ character symbolizes all women who never stopped loving their true loves.
Regardless of Sly’s actions towards her, she continues to support him because he is the only man who has her heart.
Hunter says the strong female role models in her family helped her in this role.
“I thought of the women in my family. I try to model them when they’re having grown women problems about men. That’s what help me bring Dedra out,” said Hunter.
Play director Prince Duren, a JSU alumnus and visiting professor in the Speech/, is truly living out his dreams as a playwright.
“I started off as a Mass Communications major and I decided to do MADDRAMA as an extracurricular activity. I loved what I experienced through MADDRAMA and started to help write scenes to some of the plays. Mark Henderson, the department chair, gave me the idea to start playwriting. I did not change my major because I was a senior at that time, but I did take his advice. I started writing and received awards from it which helped me to pursue a Master of Fine Arts” said Duren, an Itta Bena, Miss. native.
Shekeia Ewings, another JSU alumnus attended the play and was very pleased.
“The play was great, and I loved everything about it,” said the Greenville, Miss. native.
Freshmen students were also in attendance to support the play.
“The actors did more than just portray their characters. When I saw the actors, I did not see students, but I actually saw them as an actual mother, old man, dad, e.t.c.,” said Terrence Cameron, a business management major from Aliceville, Ala.
Duren’s stated that his goal is to make his plays relatable to anyone, especially people of color. His also plans to continue to touch hearts and live out his dream of writing plays.
“You have to work while the other person’s sleeping because it doesn’t happen over-night” said Duren.
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