James and Ruth Baker are a married couple with one teenage son (Junior) and another on the way. They live in South Oak Cliff, which is gradually becoming gentrified. James has been laid off at work, but, fortunately they own their home, and the equity it can provide. Junior’s skill as a spoken-word artist has landed him a trip to the National Competition in Chicago. But his dad doesn’t want him doing anything that might distract from getting his degree in Accounting. Al Watkins wants James to go in with him on real estate speculation. James’ older brother Jebediah, has just been released from prison. He’ll be staying with James and his family for awhile. When Bread opens, they are preparing a barbecue to welcome Jebediah. Carol Mills is Jebediah’s girlfriend, she’s a sharp wit and very plainspoken.
Written by Regina Taylor, Bread owes something more than a debt to Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. It’s almost as if she’s taken the key ideas from Raisin, made them more current, and refined them. Which is perfectly fine. Imagine if Raisin were set in Dallas in the late 2010’s and told primarily (but not entirely) from the viewpoint of Walter Younger. Like the Youngers, the Bakers: 1. want to better their lot 2. deal with encroaching white people 3. are tempted by a get rich quick scheme 4. son is denied the privilege of chosing his own vocation 5. dreams of moving up are always just out of reach. They raise Junior in a disciplined but loving home. He respects his parents though not without occasional grumbling. Like the Youngers they learn that when you’re trying to rise in the world, issues like location and money (or bread) can knock you down, over and over.
Bread would seem to be a central metaphor. Yes “bread” is slang for money, but Ruth has a bun in the oven, they are named for bakers, and Taylor seems to be reflecting on the distinction between mere wealth, and what we actually need to nurture our souls. At the play’s conclusion, something is revealed that robs Junior of his moral compass, and throws the Baker family into a tailspin. Perhaps because of the father’s inability to grasp the difference between the price of a house and the value of a home. What comes next is painful, poignant and powerful. Regina Taylor’s Bread is bleak, authentic, very intelligent and should not be missed.
WaterTower Theatre presents Bread. Playing April 13th -May 6th, 2018. 15650 Addison Road, Addison, Texas 75001. 972-450-6232. www.watertowertheatre.org.