(Cover Photo: Madison Margaret Clark as "Ernestine" with Bridgette Hayes as "Gerte" in a scene from "CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY" by Lynn Nottage, now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until February 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Mark S. Howard)


By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724  

“Our tears salted over and caked our brown faces gray. Lily chipped away at the bits of crust with a butter knife, soothing us with the hope that with the death of a great oak comes life."

                                                 - ("Ernestine") /  Lynn Nottage

Lyric Stage Company

Presents Lynn Nottage's

"CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY"

Written by Lynn Nottage

Directed by Tasia A. Jones

Cast Includes: Thomika Marie Bridwell* as "Lily Ann Green," Dominic Carter* as "Godfrey Crump," Madison Margaret Clark as "Ernestine Crump," Bridgette Hayes* as "Gerte Schulte," and Catia* as "Ermina Crump."

Additional Creative Team:

Scenic Design - Cristina Todesco**; Costume Design - Mikayla Reid; Lighting Design - Eduardo Ramirez; Sound Designer - Aubrey Dube; Props Artisan - Lauren Corcuera; Production Stage Manager - Nerys Powell*; Assistant Stage Manager - Ally MacLean; Voice & Dialect Coach - Allison Beauregard.

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

** Represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 of the IATSE

Performances:

January 10, 2025 through February 2, 2025 

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times) 

All performances to be held at LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116

TICKETS:

Contact the Box Office at # 617-585-5678 or go to lyricstage.com

BUY TICKETS

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

The Lyric Stage Company brings a dramatic feast in the engaging "CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY" now playing in Boston. 

As adeptly directed By Tasia A. Jones, the five-person cast provides commendable and enlightening performances throughout the two-act drama which takes place on a beautiful single set. 

"CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY" made its Off-Broadway debut in 1995 and has since been staged numerous times.

This latest staging by Lyric Stage Company is visually appealing using impeccably timed lighting and sound effects throughout the production.  

(Photo: Dominic Carter as "Godfrey Crump," "Madison Margaret Clark as "Ernestine Crump" and Catia as "Ermina Crump" in a scene from "CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY" by Lynn Nottage, now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until February 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Mark S. Howard)

"CRUMBS" takes us back in time to 1950s Brooklyn, New York, where we meet the “Crumps” - an African-American family who have transferred to the “Big Apple” from Florida. 

Godfrey Crump (Dominic Carter) is a widower who lives in an apartment with his two daughters, 17-year-old Ernestine (Madison Margaret Clark) and 15-year-old Ermina (Catia). 

Godfrey, a baker, is still in mourning over his wife's death and has struggled to find a path forward, turning to religion not only for solace but for practical guidance coming from the unseen “Father Divine,” leader of the "Peace Mission Movement." 

This "guidance" takes on the form of religious doctrine, making Godfrey overtly strict and intractable with his daughters who struggle adhering to his many rules as commanded by Father Divine. 

This also presents an even larger issue when Godfrey’s strong-willed sister-in-law, Lily (Thomika Marie Bridwell) unexpectedly arrives and moves in with them. 

(Photo: Madison Margaret Clark as "Ernestine" is introduced to Bridgette Hayes as "Gerte Schulte" by Dominic Carter as "Godfrey" in a scene from "CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY" by Lynn Nottage, now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until February 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Mark S. Howard)

Lily is a wilder, freer spirit who also espouses Communist views and this aggravates the conservative Godfrey to no end as he does not want his daughters influenced by Lily’s more radical ways. 

While this contentious relationship between Godfrey and Lily explodes in front of his daughters, it feels like this alone should be enough of a story, right?

Apparently, it isn't as, suddenly, by the end of Act One, we are thrown a sharp curve as Godfrey abruptly takes a new wife – a white German named “Gerte” (Bridgette Hayes), a woman he meets and marries after a roughly five-minute exchange taking place on public transportation. 

This unexpected turn of events changes ALL of the respective relationships of the characters who must now contend with Gerte living among them, especially Lily, who is most resentful of Gerte (for many reasons). 

As we watch this family as it exists during the turbulent 1950s, heightening the overall conflict for the characters in "CRUMBS" is how playwright Lynn Nottage looks at racism, Communism, inter-racial marriage, religious doctrine, parenthood, celibacy, sibling rivalry and the family dynamic itself. 

Costumes used are perfectly suited for the time period with special attention to detail for the "hand sewn dresses" worn by Ernestine and Ermina, supposedly made for them by their late mother.

(Photo: Thomika Marie Bridwell as "Lily Ann Green" with Bridgette Hayes as "Gerte" in a scene from "CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY" by Lynn Nottage, now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until February 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Mark S. Howard)

Madison Margaret Clark as Ernestine is outstanding, breaking the fourth wall and conveying much of the story.   

Clark emotionally conveys the grief that followed the Crump family from Florida and why it feels so difficult for them all to move forward. 

There is a nice contrasting relationship between the more studious Ernestine and her more rambunctious sister Ermina (marvelously portrayed by Catia), especially as the sisters go to the movies, which helps them bond as they together grieve the loss of their mother. 

As Godfrey, Dominic Carter is exceptional, showing us a grieving husband and father emotionally lost, desperate to find a path forward. 

Thomika Marie Bridwell as Lily brings a burst of energy in every scene in which the character appears. 

Dressed in a stylish white business attire, Lily explains to Ernestine that her goal is not to dress like white women but to dress better than white women, to strike a blow against racism and discrimination. 

During the show’s second act, Lily shows a softer side to Godfrey, addressing their earlier relationship; also a bitter, contentious side with the emergence of his new wife, Gerte. 

(Photo: Madison Margaret Clark as "Ernestine" with Bridgette Hayes as "Gerte" in a scene from "CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY" by Lynn Nottage, now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until February 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Mark S. Howard)

Bridgette Hayes gives a solid performance as Gerte, whose character is a bit of a mystery. 

We know Gerte is a German refugee, but much of her background is not revealed, with that which is revealed leaving us with more questions than answers. 

Gerte seems merely around to serve as a catalyst for the reactions that permeate Act Two, especially those coming from Lily. 

There are intense, even poetic moments witnessed throughout "CRUMBS" - but occasionally the poetry seems to overpower the plot, leaving us with a few loose ends - and there is insufficient time in the second act to wrap up those loose ends. 

Thankfully, under the direction of Jones, it is the collective performances which makes "CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY" quite joyful to watch.   

"CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY" continues at Lyric Stage Company in Boston until February 2^nd, 2025. 

Coming up next at The Lyric Stage will be Yasmina Reza's "ART" which begins February 21^st.  

For more information and tickets, contact the Lyric Stage Company Box Office at # 617-585-5678 or go to lyricstage.com.

BUY TICKETS

Approximately two hours, 20 minutes with one intermission

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) 

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE SHOW

Two sisters and their recently widowed father struggle to find their place in the world while holding tight to the love they have for each other. 

Adrift in Brooklyn during the racially charged 1950s, two teenage sisters Ernestine and Ermina live with their devout, recently widowed father, Godfrey, who follows the teachings of spiritual leader Father Divine. 

Almost to the point of obsession, Godfrey’s staunch beliefs cause his girls to heal their wounds with Hollywood films, daydreams, and lots of cookies. 

Their humdrum lives are turned upside down with the arrival of their vivacious Aunt Lily, who brings with her a few bad habits and a taste for rebellion. 

When Godfrey makes a shocking decision that involves a German woman named Gerte, can the family find new meaning in what makes a home?

ABOUT THE LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON

Founded in 1974 and in residence at 140 Clarendon Street since 1991, THE LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON is Boston’s oldest resident theatre company. Our mission is to produce and present live theatre in Greater Boston with an intimate approach that promotes inclusivity and connection. THE LYRIC STAGE leads an effort to integrate live theater and theater education into the lives of all residents of greater Boston.

THE LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON

140 Clarendon Street

Boston, MA. 02116

BOX OFFICE: 617-585-5678

WEBSITE: www.lyricstage.com