Nevis Mountain Dew
Encyclopedia
Nevis Mountain Dew is a 1978 play
by American playwright
steve carter
. Set in the 1950s, it is the second of Carter's Caribbean trilogy. Nevis Mountain Dew explores the subject of euthanasia
involving the patriarch of an affluent family who is confined to an iron lung.
Everalda Philibert Griffin: Jared's sister and the family member primarily responsible for his care.
Zepora Philibert: A younger sister of Jared.
Billie Philbert: The African American
wife of Jared.
Ayton Morris: A family friend.
Boise McCanles: A co-worker of Billie's.
Lud Gaithers: Another co-worker of Billie's and Boise's friend.
borough of New York City in 1954, a Caribbean-American family gathers to celebrate the 50th birthday of Jared Philibert, who is confined to an iron lung due to paralysis. Ayton, Jared's best friend, arrives at the party with a bottle of rum called "Nevis Mountain Dew." When people drink it, the rum seems to act as a truth serum
.
Nevis Mountain Dew was selected among ten New York City productions as one of "The Best Plays of 1978-1979."
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
were selected as one of the ten best plays of the 1978-1979 season in New York City
. Each play tackles the subject of euthanasia
through the eyes of a man that has become paralyzed. Otis L. Guernsey Jr., editor of The Best Plays of 1978-1979 theatre yearbook, which recognized the two productions that season, made the following observation:
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by American playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
steve carter
Steve Carter (playwright)
Horace E. "Steve" Carter, Jr. is an American playwright, best known for his plays involving Caribbean immigrants living in the United States.-Biography:...
. Set in the 1950s, it is the second of Carter's Caribbean trilogy. Nevis Mountain Dew explores the subject of euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
involving the patriarch of an affluent family who is confined to an iron lung.
Characters
Jared Philibert: The 50-year-old patriarch of an affluent Caribbean-American family. Due to being afflicted with paralysis, he is confined to an iron lung.Everalda Philibert Griffin: Jared's sister and the family member primarily responsible for his care.
Zepora Philibert: A younger sister of Jared.
Billie Philbert: The African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
wife of Jared.
Ayton Morris: A family friend.
Boise McCanles: A co-worker of Billie's.
Lud Gaithers: Another co-worker of Billie's and Boise's friend.
Plot synopsis
Set in the QueensQueens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
borough of New York City in 1954, a Caribbean-American family gathers to celebrate the 50th birthday of Jared Philibert, who is confined to an iron lung due to paralysis. Ayton, Jared's best friend, arrives at the party with a bottle of rum called "Nevis Mountain Dew." When people drink it, the rum seems to act as a truth serum
Truth drug
A truth drug or truth serum is a psychoactive medication used to obtain information from subjects who are unable or unwilling to provide it otherwise. The unethical use of truth drugs is classified as a form of torture according to international law. However, they are properly and productively...
.
Origins of the play
Nevis Mountain Dew is loosely based on the experience of a patient that the playwright encountered while working in a hospital. The play is dedicated to him.Original off-Broadway production
- Directed by Horacena J. TaylorHoracena J. TaylorHoracena J. Taylor is an American director and stage manager. She is best known for staging the original off-Broadway production of steve carter's critically acclaimed play Nevis Mountain Dew.-Biography:...
- Produced by Negro Ensemble Company (NEC)Negro Ensemble CompanyThe Negro Ensemble Company is a New York City-based theater company. Established in 1967 by playwright Douglas Turner Ward, producer/actor Robert Hooks, and theater manager Gerald S...
- Artistic Director: Douglas Turner WardDouglas Turner WardDouglas Turner Ward is an American playwright, actor, director and theatrical producer best known as a founder and artistic director of the Negro Ensemble Company .-Biography:Turner was born in Burnside, Louisiana...
- Managing Director: Gerald S. Krone
- Set Designer: Wynn P. Thomas
- Costume Designer: Alvin B. Perry
- Lighting Designer: Larry Johnson
- Press Representative: Howard Atlee
- Production Stage Manager: Clinton Turner Davis
- Opened: December 7, 1978 at St. Mark's Playhouse
Cast
- Graham BrownGraham BrownGraham Brown is an award-winning American actor best known for his work in the theatre.- Biography :Born Robert Brown in New York, New York, he is best known for his work on the stage...
- Jared Philibert - Frances FosterFrances FosterFrances Foster was an American film, television and stage actress. She was also an award-winning stage director.-Biography:...
- Everalda Philibert Griffin - Barbara Montgomery - Billie Philibert
- Ethel AylerEthel AylerEthel Ayler is a veteran African-American character actress with a career spanning over five decades.-Biography:Ayler was born in Whistler, Alabama in 1934. In 1957, she made her off-Broadway debut in the Langston Hughes musical, Simply Heavenly...
- Zepora Philibert - Arthur FrenchArthur French (actor)Arthur French is an American actor and director best known for his work in the theatre.- Biography :Throughout a career that spans over fifty years, French is best known for his work on the stage. He worked extensively with the Negro Ensemble Company and has played a wide variety of roles...
- Ayton Morris - Samm-Art WilliamsSamm-Art WilliamsSamm-Art Williams is an American playwright and screenwriter, and a stage and film/TV actor. Much of his work concerns the African-American experience....
- Boise McCanles - Charles BrownCharles Brown (actor)Charles Brown was a Tony Award-nominated actor and a member of New York City, New York theater troupe the Negro Ensemble Company...
- Lud Gaithers
Understudies
- Ethel AylerEthel AylerEthel Ayler is a veteran African-American character actress with a career spanning over five decades.-Biography:Ayler was born in Whistler, Alabama in 1934. In 1957, she made her off-Broadway debut in the Langston Hughes musical, Simply Heavenly...
- Leon Morenzie
- Chuck Patterson
- Olivia Williams
Nevis Mountain Dew was selected among ten New York City productions as one of "The Best Plays of 1978-1979."
Washington, D.C. production
- Directed by Horacena J. TaylorHoracena J. TaylorHoracena J. Taylor is an American director and stage manager. She is best known for staging the original off-Broadway production of steve carter's critically acclaimed play Nevis Mountain Dew.-Biography:...
- Produced by Negro Ensemble Company (NEC)Negro Ensemble CompanyThe Negro Ensemble Company is a New York City-based theater company. Established in 1967 by playwright Douglas Turner Ward, producer/actor Robert Hooks, and theater manager Gerald S...
- Opened: April 20, 1979 at Arena Stage:Kreeger TheatreArena StageArena Stage is a not-for-profit regional theater based in Southwest Washington, D.C. Its declared mission"is to produce huge plays of all that is passionate, exuberant, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit. Arena has broad shoulders and a capacity to produce anything from vast epics...
Cast
- Graham BrownGraham BrownGraham Brown is an award-winning American actor best known for his work in the theatre.- Biography :Born Robert Brown in New York, New York, he is best known for his work on the stage...
- Jared Philibert - Frances FosterFrances FosterFrances Foster was an American film, television and stage actress. She was also an award-winning stage director.-Biography:...
- Everalda Philibert Griffin - Barbara Montgomery - Billie Philibert
- Ethel AylerEthel AylerEthel Ayler is a veteran African-American character actress with a career spanning over five decades.-Biography:Ayler was born in Whistler, Alabama in 1934. In 1957, she made her off-Broadway debut in the Langston Hughes musical, Simply Heavenly...
- Zepora Philibert - Arthur FrenchArthur FrenchArthur French may refer to:* Arthur French, American actor* Arthur French , MP for the Irish constituency of Roscommon 1801–1821...
- Ayton Morris - Samm-Art WilliamsSamm-Art WilliamsSamm-Art Williams is an American playwright and screenwriter, and a stage and film/TV actor. Much of his work concerns the African-American experience....
- Boise McCanles - Charles BrownCharles Brown (actor)Charles Brown was a Tony Award-nominated actor and a member of New York City, New York theater troupe the Negro Ensemble Company...
- Lud Gaithers
Los Angeles production (West Coast premiere)
- Directed by Edmund CambridgeEdmund CambridgeEdmund Cambridge was an American actor and director who was a founding member of the Negro Ensemble Company and the Kilpatrick-Cambridge Theater Arts School.- Biography :...
- Produced by Los Angeles Actors Theatre
- Opened: January 1982 at Los Angeles Actors Theatre
Cast
- Graham BrownGraham BrownGraham Brown is an award-winning American actor best known for his work in the theatre.- Biography :Born Robert Brown in New York, New York, he is best known for his work on the stage...
- Jared Philibert - Esther RolleEsther RolleEsther Rolle was an American actress. She was perhaps best known for her portrayal of Florida Evans on the CBS television sitcom Maude and its spin-off series Good Times.-Biography:...
- Everalda Philibert Griffin - Lee Chamberlain - Billie Philibert
- Roxie RokerRoxie RokerRoxie Albertha Roker was an American actress, best known for her groundbreaking role as Helen Willis on the sitcom The Jeffersons, half of the first interracial couple to be shown on regular prime time television...
- Zepora Philibert - Lincoln Kilpatrick - Ayton Morris
- Hal WilliamsHal WilliamsHarold "Hal" Williams is an American actor, best known for his recurring role as the black cop Officer Smith on Sanford and Son, and as the patriarch Lester Jenkins, the husband of Marla Gibbs's character, on 227....
- Boise McCanles - David Downing - Lud Gaithers
Comparison with Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Both Nevis Mountain Dew and Brian Clark'sBrian Clark (writer)
Brian Clark is a British playwright and television writer, best known for his play ‘’Whose Life Is It Anyway? which he later adapted into a screenplay.-Biography:...
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Whose Life is it Anyway?
Whose Life Is It Anyway? is a play by Brian Clark adapted from his 1972 television play of the same title. The play premiered at the Mermaid Theatre in London's West End in 1978 starring Tom Conti as Ken.-Plot:...
were selected as one of the ten best plays of the 1978-1979 season in New York City
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Each play tackles the subject of euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
through the eyes of a man that has become paralyzed. Otis L. Guernsey Jr., editor of The Best Plays of 1978-1979 theatre yearbook, which recognized the two productions that season, made the following observation:
"Nevis Mountain Dew of course invites comparison with this season's British script on much the same subject, Whose Life Is It Anyway?Whose Life is it Anyway?Whose Life Is It Anyway? is a play by Brian Clark adapted from his 1972 television play of the same title. The play premiered at the Mermaid Theatre in London's West End in 1978 starring Tom Conti as Ken.-Plot:...
, and the NECNegro Ensemble CompanyThe Negro Ensemble Company is a New York City-based theater company. Established in 1967 by playwright Douglas Turner Ward, producer/actor Robert Hooks, and theater manager Gerald S...
variation on this theme holds its own. It doesn't confront its invalid's question "To be or not to be?" as polemically as its British counterpart, but it takes a similar stand and a closer look at the effects of such a calamity on those surrounding the victim."
Awards and recognition
- 1979: Selection, Burns Mantle, The Best Plays of 1978-1979
- 1982 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardLos Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardThe Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards is an annual awards program presented by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle . Established in 1969, the awards recognize excellence in theatre in the Greater Los Angeles Area....
- Lead Performance (Graham BrownGraham BrownGraham Brown is an award-winning American actor best known for his work in the theatre.- Biography :Born Robert Brown in New York, New York, he is best known for his work on the stage...
)