The opening moments of Antoinette Nwandu’s powerful one-act, “Pass Over,” now at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, let you know that you are in another world. You may recognize its look, you may feel that you know the denizens of the area, but we are all more than what’s on the surface. Devin Haqq directs this work and takes us on a truly deep dive into the swirling morass of class, culture, the N word, institutional racism, and the true spark of life. Nwandu and Haqq do all of this in a bit over 90 minutes and you will leave the theatre unable to see anything the same way again.
Moses (Kevis Hillocks) and Kitch (Robert Barnes) are two men who are living rough, sleeping on the street, and dreaming of getting off the block. They have a language all their own, rife with their shared experience, and with a bit of classic comedy, where each plays the clown. They watch for one another and Moses, clearly the leader, spins sugary fantasies of what the duo will do when they achieve their full potential. They talk about the Promised Land. When they meet a newcomer, in the form of the most white man (Woodrow Proctor), the onion of this story begins to unravel and, by the end, we have cut through to the bleeding, beating heart of the matter. And in the midst of that very personal destruction, regrowth begins.
Joo Kim’s set gives us the sere backdrop of Moses and Kitch’s everyday lives. While these men once had homes, their circumstances are very different. Cameron Filepas’ lighting and Scott MacDonald’s sound have the feeling of reality and dreams, all at once, and Deborah Caney’s costumes are spot-on perfect. They all contribute to the nightmare within a dream quality of this production.
This ground-shaking show will rock you to the core. If you are white, you will go through every emotion from beginning to end. Take a hankie, just in case. If you are black, you will go through every emotion as well. Yup, no matter who you are, there is a mountain to carry away with you. It will take me a lifetime to unpack, and thanks to Antoinette Nwandu and Luna, this show at this precise moment in our country’s history is right on time.
Get your tickets now https://www.lunastage.org today. “Pass Over” has been extended to March 8, so that is your last chance. See “Pass Over” now.