On June 19 1953, a man and a woman sit next to each other on stage. Above them, a radio announces the soon to be execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. “America, we are murderers,” the man says. More than 70 years later on November 10 2023, senior Yahney-Marie Sangarés new play Everything Happens at Night had its world premiere at ACHS. Directed by Hope Bachman, it is the first student written work to be performed as the annual fall play.
Starring sophomore Jacob Perlman and junior Ariana Singleton as leads Ami Allen and Lorraine Freeman, Everything Happens at Night tells a story about love and tragedy, and the joy that persists through great pain. The story follows the mysterious murder of Pierre LaPorte, a young black man in Alexandria. As Lorraine and Ami investigate, the cast struggles to grieve a man many of them hardly knew. Secrets about LaPorte’s life are gradually uncovered, and as Alexandria’s angry white mob grows more restless at a black woman scrutinizing their city, Lorraine is forced to juggle bringing Pierre justice and protecting herself.
Ami and Lorraine’s connection is a major highlight of the production. Meeting the night of the Rosenberg execution, their budding connection throughout acts I and II seems wonderfully genuine due to the script’s mixed use of witty banter and sincere conversation. The prejudice against mixed race couples is a major obstacle for them to face, and poignantly, one they are never fully able to overcome. Nevertheless, that doesn’t stop them from dancing, singing, laughing, and crying together.
Because the play is set in Alexandria, the racism that characters face feels very personally directed to its audience. It’s uncomfortable to see Ami and Lorraine be berated for holding hands. It’s even more uncomfortable to hear about the real lynchings of Joseph McCoy and Benjamin Thomas that occurred in Alexandria in 1897 and 1899. Discomfort is one of the show’s greatest achievements, as it highlights the process of sweeping history under the rug when it isn’t what we want it to be. The show displays how it’s much more important to sit with the truth and listen to the stories of the abused. Love without criticism is empty, and Everything Happens at Night challenges its audience to think deeper about our city’s history.
Ali and Lorraine, played by Jacob Perlman and Ariana Singleton, are confronted by Police chief John Pegram, played by Peter Russo.
“The script is amazing,” said Sophomore Lyric Hardemon, who plays characters Bethany Johnson and Wilma Brown. “Yahney put her whole heart and soul into the play and I think you can really tell. The storytelling is excellent, the plot is gripping, and it’s dripping with the talent and intelligence of Yahney that so many people hadn’t seen before.”
Along with its script, the production’s set and costume design are important in fostering its mood. The abundance of sets was a pleasant surprise for a highschool production. Transitions between different locations were done in a way that didn’t leave long gaps of time between scenes. And as for costume design, Ami’s brown suit and Lorraine’s dress were able to quickly communicate to the audience the time period.
Everything Happens at Night’s success is most impressive due to it being the first student written fall play.
“[Everything Happens at Night] represents the culmination of all of the work I have put into high school theatre thus far — It addresses themes from every play I have written for and/or had performed at this school,” said Sangaré.
What makes the play interesting is that it’s not just a murder mystery: it’s the story of a time infested with bigotry and the people that persisted despite it. There is no clear ending to Ami and Lorraine’s story. Will they see eachother again? The audience is left to decide. Their story is not confined to June 19th, 1953. It’s a story that has been told all throughout history, from Ancient Rome to last Tuesday.
