Kyle Blair: stage managing history in Red Velvet 

23 Nov 2022 - photos courtesy of Kyle Blair

Red Velvet tells the backstage story of the first Black actor to grace the British stage. And of the aftermath of that 1833 gamechanger that wasn't. Kyle Blair (Mary Poppins) plays Pierre Laporte, the stage manager responsible for having Ira Aldridge star as Othello. "The way Crow’s frames the play as 'an imagined version of true events' is quite perfect," says Blair. "Ira was indeed the first Black actor to play Othello at Covent Garden, but much of the play is invention. Playwright Lolita Chakrabarti’s smart writing builds a narrative around this significant event that allows us to reflect on the past and also, importantly, challenge our current perspectives. The play asks such questions as what is theatre meant to do? Does great acting reveal or disguise the actor? What are the limits on what roles we can play? These questions are still being debated in the theatre community today."

As are questions about diversity in theatre. "It was well over a hundred years after Aldridge took on the role before another Black actor was given access to Othello in a major production," says Blair. "Progress can be painfully slow. 2020 saw many theatres across Canada publicly address their oppressive histories and release statements in support of Black Lives Matter. I worry that the momentum of that moment is slowing. We must stay vigilant. The brilliant thing that Chakrabarti does with her play is attend to the inequities that have been perpetuated through white constructions of Blackness in our theatre spaces. Red Velvet centers the experience of the Black actor playing Othello, which is an important lens on Shakespeare’s play."

There was little historical information on Pierre Laporte for Blair to base his character on. "The most interesting thing I found about Laporte was a series of complaints about his importing foreign, often French, performers to grace the stages of the two English national theatres he managed. Ultimately I do not know how instrumental he was in moving the needle forward as far as diversity on the stage goes, nor do I know his ultimate motives for hiring Aldridge to play Othello. However, this play is not a documentary and so I am not as concerned about adhering to a perceived historical accuracy. While the historical facts are interesting and occasionally useful, they are not as critical for me as the actual play text. The deepest dive I did for my research on Pierre was within the pages of Chakrabarti’s play." 

And Blair discovered an important clue.. "While not explicit in the text, Chakrabarti hints heavily at Pierre being gay. The play references 'whispers in the wings' which threaten his career and reputation. In this sense, Ira and Pierre are both othered, which I believe to be part of their understanding of each other. Their experiences diverge, however, as Pierre can conceal his gayness, while Ira’s Blackness is ever-present. In remaining closeted, Pierre is able to navigate safely through the world by denying his own authenticity. Ira is more fully himself, but at the cost of not being accepted by the white gatekeepers of the theatre. The collision of ambition and oppression is central to this story. Needless to say, it is a joy to be playing a queer character." 

The thing that has revealed itself to me most in rehearsals is the deep love between Ira and Pierre. It is certainly there in the text, but it has become more clear to me in the playing of it. The bond they share is what emboldens them to dare to take the risks they do. It’s quite a thrill to share the stage with Allan Louis [Julius Caesar] who plays Ira. He is a force as well as a dream of an acting partner. His presence, daring, and rigor throughout rehearsals have been like a masterclass." But Blair doesn't believe that Laporte took such a risk just for love. "Pierre says in the play that 'theatre is a political act, a debate of our times' and in his youth he called for the demise of 'the old order.' However, he ultimately demonstrates that he is unable or unwilling to walk the walk when his own reputation is on the line. Once he has his own share of power, Pierre is not willing to sacrifice his own security and privilege to stand up for what he purports to believe in. Red Velvet is a successful play because the characters are all many things. Pierre has admirable ideals and also makes regrettable choices."