Tipping Point Theatre’s ‘Broke-ology’ Review: Being Broke Doesn’t Mean You’re Broken
For many of us, family is incredibly important. I don’t know where I would be without my family, who have helped me through thick and thin. They’ve stood with me through the good and the bad, even if they don’t always understand my actions and perhaps with just the slightest bit of judgment. That being said, love is always the motivating factor between us, which is not something that is wasted on me or that I take for granted, as I know not everyone is fortunate to have that with their family. However, with all families, there’s also the fine line between what members expect of one another and the obligations that can tie us together. It’s complex to say the least, and also serves as the connective tissue of Nathan Louis Jackson’s Broke-ology.
Tipping Point Theatre is continuing its season of nostalgia with this piece that looks at the darker side of it. Broke-ology, under the direction of Jesse Boyd Williams, is an exploration of when we look back at a simpler time fondly, which is in direct opposition to the reality that we’re currently living. It’s not necessarily a story about living in the past, but more about how the past can haunt us if we let ourselves become frozen in it. It examines a point in time that was difficult for most families, framed around the 2008 market crash, and also looks intimately at a family stuck between the inability to move forward.
However, this isn’t necessarily a show stuck in the heaviness of its structure; instead, it attempts to bring some levity and hope to an impossible situation. That isn’t to say that it shies away from the difficulty that is inherent in the story, but Broke-ology instead asks the question, “What happens if we push forward towards a brighter future in spite of the darkness hovering over us?” And let me just say, dear readers, Tipping Point Theatre answers that question beautifully in what might be one of the most important shows of their current season.
[Warning: spoilers from Tipping Point Theatre’s Broke-ology are below!]
A king and his kingdom in Broke-ology
Life hasn’t been kind to William King (Antoine McKay). Where once he had a beautiful wife, Sonia (Janai Lashon), a nice house, and a growing family, he is now almost a shadow of his former self. While he still has his two sons, Ennis (Henrí Franklin) and Malcolm (Jimmie Comer III), both grown men, his life has long since passed, and he’s no longer in control of his own body.
Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) sometime before the bulk of the show, William is no longer the independent king he once was. Instead, he’s had to learn to accept help from his friends and family, which is easier said than done. He doesn’t want to be a burden on anyone, which often makes him feel like a burden when others have to help clean up his messes.
While William’s condition is an important part of Broke-ology’s drama, I would argue it isn’t the central conflict. However, it puts pressure on it, adding stress to an already difficult situation. When the play opens past the prologue, we find two brothers who couldn’t be more diametrically opposed to one another. Ennis, the eldest of the two, has assumed the role of caretaker for his father, while Malcolm has been off to university, earning a degree.
Ennis feels like he has sacrificed a lot, forgoing an education to stay at home with his father. He also finds himself struggling to balance a job, which he hates, a girlfriend, whom he doesn’t seem to like, and the responsibility of a soon-to-be child, which also doesn’t excite him. His entire life has come to a grinding halt as he juggles all these impossible pieces, but hope arrives in the form of his baby brother.
With his return, Ennis anticipates a dynamic change in his life, with Malcolm bearing the brunt of the burden. However, Malcolm has something else in mind for his life: a return to the state where he went to college for a career and a girl. This is the core conflict of Broke-ology as these two warring brothers have to grapple with each other’s life decisions and what the future holds for the entire family.
As William’s condition worsens, Malcolm and Ennis have to make these choices quickly. Can these two come to an understanding, or is the family unit, as we know if broken beyond repair?
An exploration of broken in this play from Tipping Point Theatre
Was I expecting to have my heart ripped out of my chest when I stepped foot into this Northville playhouse? No, not in the slightest, granted I can’t really say what I was expecting from Broke-ology. I knew it centered on a family during the height of the 2008 market crash, but beyond that, I was clueless.
Perhaps my mind drifted to a show that explored a family coming together despite what was happening in the larger global world, which, in part, is true of this play. Broke-ology is indeed an intimate look at a family slowly gluing its broken pieces back together, which is just part of the beauty of this show.
As the play progresses through act one into act two, you gain an understanding of how this system functions, both the good and the bad. Both Ennis and Malcolm love their father very much, but they are also overwhelmed by the Herculean task of caring for him while still leading their own lives. This struggle is one that so many of us have faced with loved ones, and the toll can be insurmountable. Yes, we want to be there to care for our sick family members, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.
However, you also come to understand that while this system is functioning, it isn’t working. There’s no way that these two brothers can continue on this path without major sacrifices, some that William understands deeply. He knows that there is no cure for his condition and sees how that is tearing his family apart. This is perhaps the most heartbreaking piece of Broke-ology.
As a psychologist, I could see the ending from the opening scene between William and Sonia and waited with bated breath until the show closed. I could feel myself brimming with tears with each scene change, knowing what was coming long before we arrived. The beauty of Broke-ology truly comes from knowing that even in the midst of devastation, there is healing. This family is breaking apart every minute of every day, yet they still find moments to bring themselves together.
Much like dominoes, while we can knock them down, destroying all our hard work, there’s art that comes from that. The art of Broke-ology might begin with Jackson’s strong story, but it stands as a testament to the incredibly talented cast who embody it. Antoine McKay is a force to be reckoned with as William, a role that I would assume is as challenging as it is rewarding. Portraying someone with MS for almost two hours over the course of weeks takes true talent, and McKay doesn’t miss a beat. He infuses William with a strength unlike anyone else in the play, consistently making difficult choices knowing that he isn’t who he used to be.
Henrí Franklin brings an intensity that sends shivers down my spine and chills my entire body. You see the weight that Ennis has been carrying on his shoulders and how stuck he feels because of his life situations. He also isn’t someone to ask for help, furthering just how complex this character is. Franklin does incredible work making Ennis something other than one-dimensional and one-note, which I could see this character slipping into in someone else’s hands.
The same can be said about Malcolm King. Jimmie Comer III makes what could be a flat character dynamic. Malcolm just wants to live his life, and the burden placed on him is that he isn’t doing enough to care for his father. I think we can all remember being so young and wanting to go off and live our lives, but obligation is constantly nagging in the back of our heads. Your heart breaks for Malcolm as he struggles to find his footing, with Comer tugging at your heartstrings the entire time.
However, the absolute show stealer for me is Janai Lashon as Sonia. While she doesn’t have much stage time, every moment she’s out there is absolutely beautiful and even more devastating. Her words are almost like gospel, her performance iconic in every way. You can’t help but be drawn to the energy that Lashon brings to the role, making this show essential just because of her pure talent.
Broke-ology exudes theater magic
I cannot heap enough praise on this show and the incredibly talented cast and crew that brought it to life. Broke-ology is a play infused with hope, even in the darkness, and the love each person in this production brought is apparent in every moment. As an audience member, you will laugh, cry, and want to hold your family just a little bit closer. If you haven’t seen it already, then now is the time to run to Tipping Point, as Broke-ology is not one to miss.
Broke-ology runs through March 8th, so get your tickets now! Have you seen this play yet? What did you think of Tipping Point Theatre’s production of it? Continue the conversation on social media and tag @bsb.insider!
The BSB Podcast featuring Robert Bannon!
