by Cari Lynn Pace
Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks weaves historical facts with imagined emotions in this play-within-a-play about Thomas Jefferson and his slave mistress Sally Hemmings. It’s a powerhouse story that digs deep into the consciousness of today’s sense of propriety.
A present-day small theatre troupe rehearses and wrestles with their unfinished period play The Pursuit of Happiness. Their play is based on historical facts but plumped up by dialogue they alternately imagine, create, add, and cut. The cast struggles how to present their characters. What might these historical figures have been thinking? What would they have said, or changed, given the circumstances? We are swept into this whirlpool of embarrassing history – a foray into life in 1790.
Sally & Tom recounts how a 41-year old diplomat, who becomes our nation’s third president, has an affair with his 14-year old slave. He maintains this relationship for four decades, never giving her the longed-for freedom. She bears him seven children, six of whom survived. He writes the Declaration of Independence and pens “All men are created equal…” while owning, selling, and carelessly parceling out hundreds of Black slaves when he travels or must pay a debt. It’s not an unfamiliar picture of the abuse of power and wealth, or politics.
Director Lance Gardner has assembled a sterling cast who switch from their offstage lives to costumed characters in their play The Pursuit of Happiness. Emily Newsome is Luce, the playwright who takes on the role of Sally Hemings. Newsome is unbelievably convincing as Sally, and delivers a wrenching soliloquy. Adam KuveNiemann stars as Thomas Jefferson, her counterpart onstage and boyfriend Mike offstage. Jefferson’s character is loose and selfish, but that’s all in the play.
Sally’s onstage sister Mary Hemmings is enacted by Asia Nicole Jackson. Her brother James Hemmings is powerfully presented by Titus VanHook. Kenneth Ray is Devon, in the stage role of Nathan, Mary’s husband. He blooms as the understudy in Act II.
In The Pursuit of Happiness, meant to mimic historical reality, Jefferson has two legitimate and entitled daughters. The elder is amusingly brought to the stage by Rosie Hallett as a spoiled and clueless Patsy Jefferson. She suspects her father’s attachment to Sally. Nicole Apostol Bruno is bossy Polly Jefferson, the younger sister. She carries a dual role as stage manager of the troupe’s play, screeching orders no one dares ignore. Michael Phillis plays Geoff, an actor in the roles of Captain Cooper and other minor characters. His swish brought laughter and a later rendezvous.
18th century dance choreography by Lisa Townsend and period costumes design by Pamela Rodriguez-Montero lend a delightful charm to Sally and Tom. Kudos to Executive Artistic Director Lance Gardner for his stunning Marin Theatre directorial debut.
This profound production provokes thought long after the curtain closes.
Sally & Tom plays through November 23 at Marin Theatre, 397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley.
Info and tickets at or marintheatre.org
Photos by David Allen
Cari Lynn Pace is a long-time Bay Area theatre critic whose reviews were regularly featured in the Marinscope Community Newspapers.
North Bay Stage and Screen 