In “Nobody, No Time,” a devastated Bert Willams, struggling with alcoholism and ill with pneumonia, looks back on his storied career as a superstar Black comedian in the early part of the 20th century. Enormously successful in his lifetime for his sharp humor, clever pantomime and resonant voice, Williams flourished despite the racism that defined American performance in his era. Celebrated playwright Carlyle Brown’s play honors Williams and allows him to reflect on his legacy.
Produced by Illusion Theater and playing at the Center for Performing Arts in south Minneapolis, “Nobody, No Time” showcases a tour de force performance by Shawn Hamilton in the role of Williams, the best-selling Black recording artist prior to 1920, and the first Black actor to star on Broadway. Hamilton plays Williams with searing emotion, balancing his huge success with his inner turmoil.
The musical production, written and directed by Brown, zeroes in on the tension between the weight of white supremacy and Williams’ soaring genius. In addition to his onstage success, he wrote and starred in silent films, recorded at least 142 of his songs, and was a top-billing act in “Ziegfeld’s Follies” for almost a decade. (You can watch some of Williams’ brilliant performances online.)
The play’s action takes place backstage between Williams’ shows, shifting between Bert at the end of his life and memories of his illustrious career. Scenic Designer Joseph Stanley’s set features a dressing room and a theater stage, creating the areas for past and present.
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Two musicians — music director and pianist Justin D. Cook, and drummer and ventriloquist Trenon Graham – perform at the side of the stage. Graham operates Malcolm, a puppet who serves as the emcee when we see Bert remembering past performances. The musicians accompany 14 songs, originally composed and produced by Williams, which Brown has woven into the story.
Hamilton brings an exceptional gravitas to the role, revealing a melancholy brimming beneath the showman’s persona. He switches seamlessly between Bert’s onstage, effusive presence, and his mournful backstage manner.
Dennis Spears plays Bert’s dapper onstage partner, George, while Regina Williams mesmerizes as George’s wife, Aida. Williams’ performance of “All In, Out & Down” is a show stopper. Monica E. Scott, as Bert’s wife, Lottie, performs a sweet duet with Hamilton, “Eve Cast Adam Just One Bone,” while John Middleton plays two white producers, David Belasco and impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.
Bert’s valet, Chappy, acts in some ways as a connection for modern audiences. Performed by Derrick Moore, Chappy listens patiently to his boss and questions him about how he’s able to perform in blackface night after night, prompting Bert to explain how he feels about his career and legacy.
As characters from Bert’s past re-enact the memory, he explains the “cakewalk” dance, a demeaning relic of minstrelsy. He shares with Chappy why he believes white audiences were so eager to see blackface on stage, and its dehumanizing effects. “It’s not the black in blackface that makes it what it is,” he says. “It’s the smile.”
Eventually, Chappy grows frustrated. “You’re the reason Black folks can’t be themselves,” he says — an accusation that makes Bert seethe. As the play goes on, Bert makes the case, sometimes addressing the audience directly, that his performances and at times subversive talents paved the way for those who came after him.
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“Nobody, No Time” is the culmination of Brown’s productive residency with Illusion Theater, which began in 2020 and has included works like “A Play by Barb and Carl” and a solo show, “The History of Religion.” Brown has also co-curated Illusion events, including the 2023 Afro-Atlantic Playwright Festival. His many honors include a 2009 Guggenheim Fellowship, the 2018 William Inge Award and the 2022 Legacy Award. He is a Lifetime Core Member of the Playwright’s Center.
In the program notes, Brown includes a quote from W. E. B. DuBois, who eulogized the actor after his death from pneumonia in 1922, at the age of 47. “When in the calm afterday of thought and struggle to racial peace we look back to pay tribute to those who helped the most, we shall single out for highest praise those who made the world laugh; Bob Cole, Ernest Hogan, George Walker and above all, Bert Williams.”
“Nobody, No Time,” runs Wednesdays-Sundays, through Oct. 25, at the Center for Performing Arts, 3754 Pleasant Ave, S., Minneapolis. $35 suggested price, sliding scale options from $15. More information here.
Illusion Theater will also host its 50th anniversary celebration on Monday, Oct. 13, from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. with a program at 7 p.m. $52 ticket plus voluntary donation. More information here.
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