MovieChat Forums > The Trip to Bountiful (1986) Discussion > New Broadway Revival With Black Cast

New Broadway Revival With Black Cast

posted 12 years ago by jimmygude
2 replies | jump to latest

The Trip opened as a Broadway revival April 23, 2013 with an all black cast. Cicely Tyson plays Mrs. Watts. The story is universal, and should work -even with the setting being in the deep South before the end of Jim Crow. I just wonder what Ludie's job is? Has anyone seen this revival, and can you tell me how they handled this question? Did they change the city to a Northern city, or the setting to a later date?

I love the 1953 teleplay and the 1985 movie. But, I can easily see how this could appeal to older African-Americans who migrated from the South at an early age, and want to return to the simpler agrarian life they knew in their youth.

With plausible answers to these points, a movie sequel with a predominantly African-American cast could be great!

[–] carrotcake8 12 years ago

i saw the revival this past Wed. 5/15 matinee and it was wonderful.
excellent physical production and stellar performances.
to answer your questions.

1.its not an all black cast. the two tickets sellers in the bus
depot in Houston and the sheriff are played by white actors.

2.also its not re- set in the deep south nor is the time period changed.
like the original teleplay and Bway productions its set in Houston
in 1953.

3.whatever Ludie's job is is never specified. though the audience is
given the impression he's well regarded enough at work that he's
decided to be bold and ask his boss for a raise.

4.also i can't help but wonder if the 4 main characters(Carrie Watts, her
son, her daughter in law and the young woman on the bus)though played by
black actors are supposed to actually be black. this may seem like a
silly thing to say but the kindly way with which the two ticket sellers
in the Houston bus depot and the sheriff treat Carrie make me think this.
its kind of like the recent revival of "Come Back Little Sheba". though
the main character Lola was played by S. Epatha Merkison the character
wasn't to be black.

[–] jimmygude 11 years ago

Thanks Carrotcake for your information. This play is responsible for two great actresses (Geraldine Page's Oscar win and Cicely Tyson's Tony win for best actress. It demonstrates, in part, the humanity of this character created by Horton Foote. I did know the Sheriff (Tom Wopat) was white. He was one of the Duke brothers in the old TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard" if memory serves me correctly.

"Come Back Little Sheba" was a very good early 50's movie starring Shirley Booth and Burt Lancaster. Your knowledge and insight of Broadway revivals is greater than mine. Your point about the four main character's race is quite good in the way the white actors treated Mrs. Watts.

Though this is a universal "human plot" unrelated to race, if this movie was remade today featuring a largely black cast, with Mrs. Watts wanting to repatriate to her early southern roots, this would be an interesting twist.