Darkhorse explores drama that ignited Civil Rights Movement explored on stage

Of the many shameful incidents leading up to the American Civil Rights Movement, perhaps none were more horrifying than the story of Emmett Till. In August 1955, the Chicago teen was visiting relatives in Money, Miss., when he was kidnapped, beaten and murdered. His crime? Allegedly whistling at a white woman.

Outraged by her son’s murder, Mamie Till-Mobley held an open-casket funeral and invited the press to document the crime’s brutality. The national media quickly picked up the gruesome photos of the mangled corpse, making a martyr of Till and effectively igniting the Civil Rights Movement.

Staging such an important story is not without its challenges. How far is too far when it comes to portraying such evil on stage? And how does one separate Emmett Till the person from Emmett Till the symbol? But SistaStyle Productions does an admirable job with The Face of Emmett Till, which runs through March 8 at the Darkhorse Theater.

Penned by Mamie Till-Mobley and playwright David Barr III, The Face of Emmett Till recounts the young man’s brief life and shocking death, along with his mother’s courageous crusade for justice.

It’s weighty material, often playing more like a documentary than a traditional play. And at more than two and a half hours, it is an emotionally draining experience for actors and audience alike.

But the production succeeds primarily due to its strong performances — especially Cameron Pate as Emmett and Mary McCallum as Mamie. An eighth grader at Brentwood Academy, Pate possesses a presence not often seen in young actors. His performance is earnest, honest and moving.

Likewise, McCallum portrays the grieving mother with great courage and dignity. Other standouts include Rodrikus Springfield (as the great uncle who was unable to protect Emmett) and Jorge Moran (as both a terrifying redneck bent on “teaching the boy a lesson” and the patronizing defense attorney for Till’s killers).

More than 50 years after his death, there is still much we can learn from the story of Emmett Till.

What we choose to do with those lessons is up to us. As Mamie Till-Mobley reminds us in the final moments of the play: “Freedom is not free. Someone always has to pay a price for someone else to enjoy the liberty of freedom.”

What: The Face of Emmett Till

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a Sunday matinee at 4 p.m. through March 8

Where: Darkhorse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Ave.

Cost: $12, special half-off admission on March 5

Info: 476-6430 or sistastyle.net