Lafayette: Crumbs from the Table of Joy

Crumbs is a memory play told through Ernestine, a seventeen year old, African American young woman whose family is dealing with their own realities of change. Reeling off of the loss of his wife, Godfrey Crump, Ernestine’s father, is left with the sole responsibility of raising his two maturing daughters.

“Crumbs from the Table of Joy is a feminist play. It is a story about women and how they combat the institutions and cultural impositions thrust upon them.” shared director Tanika Baptiste. “These women represent the various archetypes both celebrated and rejected by America. Nottage is telling us to be nuanced in our understanding of others through these four women as we are complicated and make choices for survival. Women especially must live in and follow their passions.  We must not allow our choices to be made at the discretion of others. A thriving society is one where women have shown up to discuss what is going on. As Gloria Steinem said “Women must have seats at the table because peace is too crucial to be left only to the politicians or only to the male half of our world.” To that I add Yes, and if that table is serving crumbs we must be strong enough to get up, build our own, and feast.”

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