I don’t think many of us knew what to expect walking in to see “Riverside.”
With the sun still high in the sky and only a slight breeze to relieve the 82-degree heat, a good-sized crowd filled the lawn at the Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre. Some lay down blankets, others brought chairs, a few nibbled on snacks and others unloaded their coolers as we waited for the show to start.
As 8 p.m. rolled around, the audience started to get antsy. The sounds of the river and summer insects chirping over the speakers got louder for several minutes until it became unbearable, accompanied by the moaning and hollering of what seemed to be the actors backstage and — oh, the show had started.
No introduction, no “please enjoy the show,” just a handful of actors screaming and rolling around in the grass throughout the amphitheater as the sound of the river rushes through the speakers, seemingly taking us back in time; before Indianapolis was Indianapolis or the White River was called as such.
“Riverside,” a production by ML Roberts, is directed by Rudi Goblen and produced by The Indianapolis Shakespeare company (Indy Shakes) in partnership with the New Harmony Project — a national arts organization dedicated to fostering playwrights in developing new stories integrating “the complexity of hope.”
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There was a palpable feeling of confusion and discomfort in the audience in response to the strange start to the show, but as the actors began their introductory monologues and make their way down to the stage, those feelings eased, and everyone began to lean in, giving into the pull of the story about to unfold.
I won’t spoil this one too much because Indy Shakes still has three more performances of “Riverside” on July 25, 26 and 27, and I highly recommend anyone who hasn’t seen it to clear their schedule this weekend and go sit under the stars while this lovely cast tells you the story themselves.
“Riverside” follows the Johnson family, played by the entire cast at one point or another, but beginning with one Sarah Johnson and her eventual husband Jacob.
We see their story unfold across several generations, beginning in 1821 at the riverside settlement for free people of color. There’s a marriage and some children who grow up and have children of their own, carrying the Johnson name through the industrial revolution and cultural renaissance of the 1920s. Those children and grandchildren live through the rise and fall of Indiana Avenue and racial injustices of the segregated Riverside Park in the 1960s.
Through it all, we see the Johnsons struggle and persevere through sorrow and loss, joy and triumph, and of course, racial injustices. Still, the Johnsons and each of their descendants remain steadfast in their dedication to choosing a new and better path for themselves. Each of their stories is steeped in love, legacy and tradition, paying homage to those who came before with the passing of the family name and family heirloom.
Sound fills the story where visuals fall short: the rushing currents of the river, the chirping crickets and wind through the branches of a tree. The clanging of church bells and hooves on cobblestone make way for the unmistakable whistle of a steam engine and bustling of chatter of early Naptown.
The set is more or less a suggestion of where the story takes place. The outdoor stage is both a church and a home, a front porch and an amusement park, the river and Indiana Avenue. Actors remain onstage the entire time, visible from the wings, offering a line or two and breathing in time with the rushing of the ever-present river. Songs and spirituals are scattered throughout, bringing the characters closer to their joy and grief at the same time.
Stage directions are read aloud — an odd choice stylistically, but a good one, nonetheless.
While this show is open to all, “Riverside” does include strong language and themes, including profanity, violence and racism, that may not be suitable for some children. Audience discretion is advised.
“Riverside” is showing at the Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre in Riverside Park July 25-27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are free and can be reserved at eventbrite.com. For more information, visit indyshakes.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
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