By Alan Jozwiak
“Listening to the unheard and ignored voices in history” says playwright Morgan Lloyd Malcolm as to what drove her to write Emilia. It is a play about Emilia Bassano, a female poet who is a contemporary with Shakespeare and all but forgotten today. Emilia is the mainstage CCM Acting production opening this weekend, and closing Feb 15, 2025.
Background
Emilia tells the story of Emilia Bassano, a feminist poet, Shakespeare’s lover, and woman who aspired to be the social reforming Jane Addams of her day by teaching the unfashionable peasant women of London to read, write, and produce rhyme.
This British history play, which spans decades of her life, has a cast of 13 women (not including understudies), who play both male and female parts. This play could be challenging for contemporary American audiences. Fortunately for CCM, they have Know Theatre’s Artistic Director Bridget Leak as director.
Director Bridget Leak Leans into the Humor of Emilia Script
Leak is an accomplished director, most notably with her engaging work in this year’s production of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s A Christmas Carol. She makes two bold directorial choices which makes this play breathe and come alive. First she leans into the humor present in the script and highlights it prominently. This approach lightens some scenes that would normally play heavier with audiences. For instance, there are some wonderful comedic moments with Emilia’s husband, the fop Alfonso (senior Jahmiya Quarles), that leans into the extravagant comedic nature of Alfonso’s character.
Second, Leak gives her actors the freedom to move and dance to portray various montages or different passages of time. Because of this fact, there is a delightful scene in Act I where the main character finds herself at her first court dance. The choreography of the dancing actors perfectly compliments the action of the young women present trying to find suitable suitors.
Three Women Play the Title Role
Malcolm’s play gives voice to Emilia through a chorus of three women, labeled Emilia 1, 2, and 3. Each of these actors in this production is a standout. All of them are seniors (the cast itself has 8 senior CCM Acting students) and each brings their own strengths to the role.
Emilia 1 is played by Palini Sunkara. As the youngest, Sunkara plays Emilia during her formative years. Sunkara is a strong actor who has a wonderful way of showing the character’s betrayed innocence as she goes from losing her parents to being placed into an arranged marriage with someone she barely knows and does not love.
My favorite moment with her is the seduction scene where Sunkara and Shakespeare (senior JJ Sanchez) are reciting poetry to each other as a means of seduction. It is a perfect blending of words and actions to great effect.
Equally strong is Joysoline Ivory Smith who plays Emilia 2, the version of the woman who has to deal with the betrayals and abandonment from the men in her life–Shakespeare, her husband, and her lover Lord Carey (Kiki Hellerman). This is the rough part of her life where things turn south and Smith portrays Emilia’s response to these difficulties with grace and fortitude.
Her strongest scene comes when Emilia bursts onto the stage where Shakespeare’s Othello is being produced and denounces Shakspeare for stealing her work. Lines which Shakespeare’s character Emilia mouths in Othello are from Bassano’s seductive talk with Shakespeare. Smith showcases the fire and passion of Emilia with great force.
Finally, Emilia 3
Rounding out the chorus of Emilia’s is Yodeet Nymberg as Emilia 3. Nymberg handles her later years, where she runs a school for the illiterate women of London and becomes scandalous for publishing feminist verses. Nymberg has the power and beauty to handle a role many years her senior confidently and sympathetically.
My favorite moment with her is when Eve (Gabrielle Mignonne), one of the women she has been teaching, is hesitant to read a verse she has written to Emilia. Nymberg’s deft handling of this little scene where she encourages and embraces Eve’s work is testament to Nymberg’s skill at handling the aging woman.
While space does not permit me to discuss every actor, I appreciated the fact that each actor has their moment to sparkle and shine. It enlivens the production and makes me root for characters I might not otherwise normally care about.
Costumes Shine in Emilia
One other person needs to be singled out in this production, costume designer and CCM student Jayna Fry. I love how each of the three women has costuming that is distinct, to express their different stages in life, but also share common elements. It is a delight to see such fine costuming in this production.
Overall
In short, CCM Acting’s Emilia delivers a thought-provoking script, strong direction, and wonderful acting by both principals and the ensemble. While British history plays are not for everyone’s taste, this production is a good first exposure to this type of drama. It does not disappoint.
Tickets to Emilia
CCM’s Emilia runs February 13 to 15, 2025, with performances each evening at 8 pm and a Saturday matinee on February 15 at 2 pm. Click here for tickets.
