Last time, Copeland wrote about his childhood in the 99.4% white San Leandro and his adulthood as a man accused of not being black enough. A radio personality at KGO, (now a TV host of 7 Live), Copeland had received a letter — the umpteenth of its kind — accusing him of not being “a genuine black man.” He knew this would be his subject when comedy maestro Carl Reiner imparted a bit of writing advice to Copeland; “find the piece of ground that you alone stand on, and write from there.”
Copeland’s singular story started in 1972, when, at age 8, his family moved to San Leandro, which had recently been named one of the country’s most racist suburbs. His account of his experiences with racism, police harassment and housing discrimination was historically illuminating, funny and dare I say, poignant.
The new show is likewise intrinsically interesting. And potentially poignant; what does one do during the 240 hours when one is waiting to kill oneself?
Copeland tells us, more or less, what he did do — and what he made his kids for dinner. (Spoiler Alert: Chinese take-out.) His persona is affable and familiar and he has an easy, appealing humor. This in itself goes a long way to win the audience. But his articulation of what he thought and felt during those 10 days is too often too vague.
Certainly there’s an unique challenge in crafting a play about emotional numbness. But if one is going to write from a particular piece of ground that he alone stands on, particularity is key. Copeland’s goal of explicitly conveying the universality of his experience muddies his ground.
He shifts to other people’s ground in his effort to bring light to this dark place, to the subject of depression and suicide. On a number of occasions he refers to people who are “one of us” — they are part of an unseen community of dangerously despairing people.
In between quite a few warmly amusing scenes (he’s clueless at the gun shop, requesting a revolver because he knows its name from the Beatles album), the play slips into an earnest P.S.A.-type inspirational speech.
In fact, the performance I attended was a benefit for Bring Change 2 Mind, a non-profit that focuses on the stigma of mental illness. And the monologue works very well as a companion to this group’s mission.
At times in the play, Copeland reflects the experiences of some suicidal young people who he had interviewed. He performs their interviews Anna Deavere Smith-style, presenting the character verbatim.
He also plays his daughter, who is really worried about him. And we become really worried about her. Her fear and stress are well-conveyed even tough Copeland’s gift for playing anyone other than himself (particularly kids) is somewhat lacking.
I’d like to have heard more about his kids, and the wife who left him, and the people he is planning to leave. In The Waiting Period, context and storytelling are a bit wanting. And while the 10 day time-frame is precise, the experience itself is sharp but not vivid.
The Waiting Period runs through Marsh 24, 2012 at The Marsh in San Francisco. For tickets and information visit themarsh.org.
