PLEASE NOTE, this event has been postponed until a later day amid COVID-19 concerns, per Dr. Paul Austin. The new date will be shared as soon as possible.
If change is ever going to come to “this mess with our young people’’ and “this mess around race,’’ it will take “real, authentic relationships and honest conversation.’’ This is the view expressed by Bessie, a savvy grannie in the thought-provoking Arts Emerson production of Mr Joy that will be performed for Hingham High students next week and presented free of charge to the general public on Thursday, March 12 at 7 pm at Hingham High School. The play is being brought to HHS by Hingham METCO and co-sponsored by the Hingham Unity Council, an organization formed to encourage in-person civil dialogue about difficult issues - with a goal of creating real, authentic relationships and honest conversation.
Mr. Joy is a one-person play and the solo performance by the mesmerizing Debra Walton is well worth coming out for. The play is rich with thought-provoking and important storylines as Ms. Walton portrays over six different characters, including the eponymous Mr Joy, a Chinese immigrant running a shoe repair shop in Harlem whose brutal assault forms the nexus of the play’s trajectory. The characters that surround him include a teenage poet, a real estate developer, a transsexual flight attendant, a young woman with AIDs and grannie Bessie. The play weaves together issues of broken homes, immigration, gentrification, ethnic tensions, gang violence, and police brutality. The presentation will be followed by a talk-back with the producer.
“I think it’s important that our students and our community get exposure to different ideas and different cultures. Mr Joy does just that and Hingham Public Schools could not be happier to have received this grant from ArtsEmerson and METCO HQ!” says Hingham METCO director Carols Perez.
The Hingham Unity Council (“HUC”) is partnering to promote the event as it aligns directly with their goal of promoting dialogue and exchange. “We were concerned that some parents had reported online that their students were experiencing racism in town. Our mission is to promote a more inclusive culture where everyone is accepted,” says HUC steering committee member Courtney Orwig. “So we wanted to create a space for honest dialogue.”
“The idea behind HUC is to talk and — especially — listen, without trying to “fix” each other,” says Pam Harty, another HUC steering committee member.
HUC plans to roll out more events in the upcoming months with this goal in mind, including a screening of Chelsea Handler’s documentary on race Hello Privilege, It’s Me, Chelsea at Temple Sha'aray Shalom in Hingham on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 pm. The showing will be followed by small group discussion.
“We just hope people will walk away from our events curious for more conversation,” says HUC member Emmanuel Oppong.
Further initiatives currently underway will address issues of socioeconomic disparity and issues related to members of the LGBQT+ community. HUC is partnering with neighboring South Shore communities including Cohasset and Scituate and the group has filed for status as a nonprofit.
Mr. Joy contains no graphic images but the subject matter and performance are probably most appropriate for ages 12 and up. Tickets are free but reservations are strongly encouraged. Please click here to reserve yours now!