Sydney Elisabeth Photo by Caelan Carlough

Thanks to Alex Hill, the talented projection designer, since before one word is uttered, theatregoers view, upon rear panels, revealing images that instantly involve observers with a time of protest and hope in this country, days before the now legendary 1963 March on Washington. Flashback then transports us to 1952 when Martin Luther King Jr. (Rashun Carter) and Coretta Scott King (Sydney Elisabeth) were becoming acquainted, getting to know one another. Bayard Rustin (Destan Owens) was the man many thought was most pivotal in making the 1963 march a reality. It has only been in recent years that Rustin has received recognition for what he accomplished. Stanley Levison (Harry Smith) was a silver-tongued, witty New York lawyer who corrected those who mentioned that he was white by advising that he was Jewish. He joined forces with attorney/speechwriter Clarence Jones (Brett Diggs), who positioned himself just behind King at the Lincoln Memorial as MLK exhorted with "I have a dream..." and many moving words. Jones, who died this past May, was a key advisor to King.

The American Five is Jakobs's debut play and he is a versatile person who otherwise describes himself, in the program, as an "environmental social activist." This production starts as the march is about to begin and subsequent dialogue supplies background for the five characters. At one point, in 1956, Martin and Coretta's home is firebombed, and the audience is startled through Sam Rushen's bold lighting and Amoirie Perteet's boisterous sound.

Rashun Carter's MLK evolves into a man who espouses non-violence, but it takes him some years to fully develop and hone that philosophy. He feels life's stress and pressure as he emerges as not one of many but into the role of singular leader. King must balance his personal existence with his and others' political expectation. Carter does not make the mistake of trying to be or even resemble the actual Martin Luther King. He gives a believable performance. As Coretta, Sydney Elisabeth mixes compassion and humor with perception. Her wide perspective is wide and helpful.

Harry Smith brings wise-guy humor as the caring Stanley Levison. He introduces himself by referencing Tikkun Olam, from Judaism, which recommends repair of the world. When King is confined to the Birmingham Jail, it is Levison who gets the money together for his release. Later, Smith works on the final March on Washington speech.

The first act of the play provides back story so theatregoers have a fuller sense of less recognizable personae, such as Rustin, Levison, and Jones. Jakobs writes rich dialogue for all the characters. The second portion of the play opens with speechmaking on both sides of stage. Coretta delivers a talk at Spelman College, as Bayard Rustin addresses Howard University students. Moving forward, the scripting, during the final thirty minutes, accentuates King's memorable words.

The American Five is a tightly wound, conversational play that is descriptive and engaging. A year and a half ago, Jakobs, during an NPR interview, explained that it was something else when he began writing it. "It was actually a play of three acts that had 15 different characters in it. And I was exploring the relationship between Black and Jewish and queer people and women, not only on civil rights, but kind of like our current time." That first effort took four hours to read and is a very far cry from the structured, well-knit Berkshire Theatre Group production. This author, through his characters, delves into the lives of five specific people who were formative, even indispensable. What we have is happily instructive and, for once a well-worn phrase is apt: a learning experience.

The American Five runs through July 11, 2026, at Berkshire Theatre Group, Unicorn Theatre, 5 East St., Stockbridge MA. For tickets and information, please visit BerkshireTheatreGroup.org or call 413-997-4444.