"Black and Blue" explores the complex relationship between the African-American community and the police. The original play is authored and directed by Lee Patton Chiles of University City. It is based on a compilation of interviews with police officers, protesters and members of the African-American community about the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson and the events that followed.

Chiles, who is playwright in residence for Gitana Productions, substitute teaches a playwriting class at Webster University. She began writing "Black and Blue" in 2014, and the first production was mounted in May 2015.

"I wanted to convey balance so we see this from everyone’s point of view," she said. "Everyone was all stirred up but nobody really knew everybody else’s story."

Gitana is presenting the play with partial funding from the Regional Arts Commission and the Missouri Arts Council. Additional support is coming from organizations that share the goal of promoting racial equality by giving both police and protesters a voice.

Those groups include Harris-Stowe State University, Webster Groves Christian Church, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Christ Lutheran Church, Sisters CARE (Christians Advocating Racial Equality), The Ethical Society of St. Louis and the American Ethical Union, and the Alliance for Interracial Dignity.

Webster Groves resident Garrett Bergfeld, a physiology professor at Webster University, was lured back to acting just for this play. He was cast in the role of a police officer.

"I acted semi-professionally in the past, though I’ve been with Webster University for 26 years," he said.

Patton, who had worked with Bergfeld in the past, called him about the role.

"I felt this was an important story, and I knew she would be unbiased," Bergfeld said. "Without looking at the script, I said yes."

He praised Chiles for using actual interviews with people involved to create the script.

"Those who come to see the play shouldn’t expect to be preached at," Bergfeld said.

"I have a T-shirt I wear on stage – and I wear it off stage too – that says ".001 percent." That’s the genetic difference between Caucasian and African-American people."

Webster Groves School District Superintendent Sarah Riss is among the leadership for the Alliance for Interracial Dignity, a group committed to building a socially just community.

"Healing and hope are themes for the play, to help people understand both sides of the situation," Riss said.

Webster Groves Police Capt. Stephen Spear will be a member of a panel at the end of the show, along with some local clergy.

Cecilia Nadal, executive director of Gitana Productions, said the performance at Webster Groves High School came about after Kathleen Martin, with Sisters CARE, saw the play on its second remount. She felt it would be important to bring it to the Webster Groves-Kirkwood area.

"As a small arts organization, we couldn’t offer this to the public at no cost without this extra support," Nadal said. "These local sponsors provided in-kind and monetary support to give this to the public."

She said her organization’s mission is to use the arts as a vehicle to bring people together.

"This play lets people have a balanced view of how it’s not healthy to presume all black men are guilty or that all men and women in blue are racist," she said. "It’s clear to me many people are polarized, either pro-police or pro-protesters. A way we could help is to show the nuances of issues."

A couple of people in the play – which has a cast and crew of about 18 – are actual protesters.

"One of them, Valeri Felix, is 14, an African-American girl from Creve Coeur, who asked her mom to take her to the protest," Nadal said.

Kathleen Martin, a South County resident and a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves, is co-chair of Sisters CARE. They are a group of Christian women of diverse backgrounds who were inspired by events in Ferguson. They first met in late 2014.

"Our goal and mission are to foster communication about race issues and develop relationships, and we feel this play is a good opportunity for people to explore different perspectives," Martin said.

Her group is also working with local restaurants – including San Jose Mexican restaurant, 35 N. Gore Ave., and Jet’s Pizza, 234 W. Lockwood Ave. – to offer discounts that day to playgoers.

For more information about the play, email [email protected] or call 314-721-6556. Tickets or free, but reservations are requested. Visit www.gitana-inc.org. Donations are encouraged.

West-Kirkwood Times © May 2016