Black & Bluestein
Black & Bluestein, playing at the Santa Monica Playhouse, takes place in 1963 in the conservative city of St. Louis, MO. Based on the true life event in the lives of Playwright Jerry Mayer and his wife Emily, it is about a serious topic, but Mayer presents his story with profound humor. I suppose that is the reason I am drawn to his plays, which are always humorous and entertaining. Perhaps, too, it is because I grew up in St. Louis as well and everything about his plays is so familiar to me. He happens to be one of my favorite current playwrights.
Jeff Bluestein (Loren Lester) and his wife Susan (Kelly Lester) live in a close-knit subdivision built by Bluestein Construction. Jeff is building a new development two blocks away and, with plans to move into the new subdivision, has his house up for sale. When a charming gentleman, Dr. Daniel Black (John Eric Bentley), stops by to view the home, he falls in love with it and offers to buy it for the full asking price. Dr. Black explains that he was a professor at Northwestern University, has been hired by Monsanto Chemical Company to head their bio-chemistry department and will be moving to St. Louis from Chicago. Since the house is close to Monsanto and the neighborhood schools are desirable for his two children, this is the perfect home for his family. It sounds as if Jeff has had a stroke of luck. But has he? Susan is all for accepting Dr. Black’s offer (full price), but Jeff asks him if he wouldn’t like to buy Marvin Feldman’s (Larry Gelman) house down the street for the same price, but Dr. Black tells him
that his house, being on the corner, is just what he has been looking for. Why is Jeff trying to ruin his own sale? The answer is, this is 1963, Dr. Black is an African American and the neighborhood of 26 houses is home to all white, mostly Jewish residents. This is a real dilemma for Jeff who wants to do the right thing, but is concerned about how his neighbors will react to his selling to a Negro family. He puts Dr. Black off, explaining to him as politely as he can, the situation facing him, and that he wants to have a meeting of the homeowners to get their reactions.
Needless to say, Mimi Roth (Lenora May), the neighborhood meshuganeh (pain in the you-know-what) is the first to speak, as she says, for all of the people involved. Jeff’s Uncle Joe Godsky (George Coe) who has a home next door to the Bluesteins, owns a market in an African American neighborhood, and from his bad experiences with some of his customers, insists that, if the sale goes through, he will sell his house, too. The meeting doesn’t go well, but Jeff’s conscience won’t let him give a final refusal, even after he receives threatening phone calls and loses some sales in his new development. Because he knows what is right, yet is concerned about a final acceptance, he continues to keep Dr. Black in limbo. When Dr. Black explains the situation over the phone to his wife Doris (Kimberly Arland), she can’t understand how he can be so complacent and patient and tells him to look elsewhere. But Dr. Black is one to believe that you can catch more bees with honey and remains stalwart and patient. This true tale is
not only one of people with exceptional character; it is a breakthrough in what should have always been. We have to admire and respect all those involved in this saga.
The Other Space at the Santa Monica Playhouse
1211 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA
Plays every Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. through May 3, 2008
For tickets, call Brown Paper Tickets at (800) 838-3006 or online at
BrownPaperTickets.com/event/26952
Use code “flyer” for discount off each ticket