Freight

Freight “The Five Incarnations of Abel Green” is playing at the Castillo Theatre located at 543 West 42nd Street. It runs one hour forty five minutes with no intermission. The play closes on November 19, 2017.

It takes place in rural and urban America on a train car during 1910-2010.

The play revolves around Abel Green (J. Alphonse Nicholson). Abel assumes the body of five different African Americans in five different time periods.

The Minstrel-early 1910s” is the first person. Abel figures who better to portray an African American but him. He is poking fun at blacks like the whites did. While earning money out of making fun of his own race.

Next is “The Instrument of God- mid 1980. Abel believes God has given him the gift of healing people. He finds out he has been dupe by the people around him. They get people to pretend they are sick. When the sermon is over they keep the collections received.

“The Snitch-late 1960’s”. Abel is arrested for a crime he committed. The FBI tells him if spies on the Black Panther’s they will dropped all charges they have on him. He realizes the FBI is making theBlack Panter’s look bad.

The Last Black Actor-1980’s”. Abel is struggling as an actor. Black actors get roles portray them as hoodlums. His friend is an actor is always there for him. When he finds out he is gay and has Aids he turns against him.

Last is “Saturn-Bound Man-2010s”. Abel is a seller of supreme mortgages. When he realizes people have lost their homes and possessions because they couldn’t keep up with the loans he has approved. abel gets upset. He is obsessed on doing the right thing done by his greedy deeds.

There is more to the stories then I am telling you, why spoil it for you.

This is an amazing play that should not be missed.

The transition from one incarnation to another is done smoothly and gracefully.

There are two pieces of furniture and the places flash on the stage wall letting you know where you are. You don’t need much more.

J. Alphonse Nicholson as Abel Green, mesmerizing you from start to finish. He is amazing in the five different roles. He does not miss a beat. Mr. Nicholson is one talented actor I would love to see in another show on Broadway. I would proud to say I knew him when!

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to photos. Click on photos for this and other shows.