Actor's Blog

Nashville Children's Theatre is excited to share with our audiences what it is like to be an actor at NCT. For each play, we'll offer a different actor's perspective on being in a show and the work and fun that goes into the preparation and performance.

Most Valuable Player
Blog by Kamal Bolden

Posted on February 25, 2008

When I moved to Nashville from Peoria, Illinois over a year ago to bridge a long-distance relationship, all I could think was, “I’m in the South, in a city much bigger than my hometown, with no friends, and country music.”  But now, I can say with a smile, “I love Nashville and I’m glad I’m here,” especially when someone asks me about what I’m doing now.

Portraying Jackie Robinson, who was a great athlete, and an even greater human being and activist, has been my most difficult challenge yet as an actor, but definitely, the most rewarding one.  Attempting to display the events, struggles, and emotions of an individual who changed America is a daunting task that requires a lot of research, patience, and great direction.  I have been fortunate to be a part of an extremely talented and experienced cast that I can pull strength and wisdom from.  And it certainly helps that they’re funny as all heck, which helps calm me down backstage.

There are times during the play when I get to look out into the audience as Jackie, and I see faces of all shades and complexions, some fresh and smooth, some experienced and natured; but all enthralled and amazed at the things Jackie went through to break the color line of baseball and change the attitudes and minds of many people. And it is during these times that I feel the most connected to his story and his impact on our nation to this day. I can’t help but be thankful for those moments, because I vicariously feel like the people’s champ. This makes me want to rush off stage after the curtain call and sign autographs and just thank the people for sharing in this experience.

After one particular performance, it was brought to my attention that the cast would not be required to sign autographs due to the flu epidemic. I was disappointed, but I was reassured it was for the best for health reasons, but also because there were some steamed parents waiting in the lobby that were not so happy about the language in the play. Of course, there is one very nasty racial pejorative that is written in the script and used often in the course of events that take place on stage.  But NCT has communicated that this play is intended for older children—at least ages 9 and up, which I consider a great age to benefit the most from the play. Disclaimer aside, this word had to be included. To remove it would be a disservice to the audience, the actors, and the shared experience between the two. To remove it, would remove the authenticity of the play, the authenticity of Jackie’s life story, and make this art we call ‘theater’ less effective.

I was offended that someone could allow themselves to be offended by the language in the play, because it makes me think that we, as a theater company, did not do a good enough job to illuminate the most important themes of the play: bravery, courage, friendship, acceptance, unity, perseverance, spirit, racial equality, and change; and at the same time, cast shameful darkness on such cowardly uses of racial pejoratives and taunts. Combine this with Jackie’s reception of the MVP award and his touching and hopeful speech at the end of the play, and you’ve got a convention, I would think, that displays the good, the bad, and the ugly of Jackie’s times and makes us thankful for the racial harmony and politics we enjoy today.

When I read the play, the aforementioned themes are what strike me--not the usage of the “N” word. I believe if Jackie were alive today, he would insist that the word remain in the play simply to show how things were back then, and how much things have changed since then. If we truly aim to show the children how brave Jackie was to subject himself to such a volatile atmosphere that included death threats towards him and his family, and balls thrown at his head by hateful pitchers looking to make him quit, and bottles and other dangerous objects tossed from the stands, then our first job is to remain true to the language and hope that a child that has questions about the “N” word can go to his teacher or parent and have a fruitful, and provocative discussion bolstered with allusions to the play and the heroics of Jackie Robinson.

It is okay to be jolted or uncomfortable with some of the language in the play, as most people should be. Outside of the play, I choose not to use some of the words that many viewers have had an issue with, but from the start of rehearsals I decided that we are in a certain place in terms of race relations in our country that the inclusion of this language in this context will only serve to increase the play’s impact on its audience, not hinder it. I hope the next time Most Valuable Player is produced at NCT, everyone in the city and our friends just outside its border are ready and willing to step up to the plate, look past the politics and ignorance, and join us in congratulating Jackie Robinson for knocking racism out of the park.

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