"Time cannot be bought. The only coin time accepts is life.”
– If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
By James Baldwin
Adaptation and Direction: Elise Thoron
Performed by Channie Waites
A story that remains disturbingly poignant sixty years after it was first published, James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk is about abiding love in the face of injustice. Told from the perspective of its young heroine, this is the story of one family’s fight for justice in a society where institutional discrimination has the power to destroy lives, a theme that resonates today with audiences from all walks of life.
The Story
Young lovers Tish and Fonny discover they are having a baby after Fonny is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. Racing against time and injustice, their families come together to bring Fonny home before the baby comes.
In Performance
This dynamic solo performance is told through Tish’s point of view, as well as Fonny’s in prison. The tone of the story is both sad, and sweet and determined. The audience understands in depth the central character’s dilemma, as she continues to visit the father of her child behind bars and her devotion to Fonny increases. The performance shows us the strength of the Rivers family; how they come together to defend Fonny and get him out of prison to be reunited with Tish and their child. Throughout the performance we watch how the power of a family’s love can fight injustice and the racial bias of the judicial system.
Appropriate for: high school, college, and community audiences
Please note: this title contains mature content and language.