Composers and their stage works 

The Dreamer

Ade Morris (2000)


Like a dream, the fragmented structure of the drama weaves together to story of sixties icon Martin Luther King with that of a contemporary Black Briton. King's story is the inspirational tale of an American Baptist minister who led the American civil rights campaign of non-violent resistance - before being shot dead in Memphis in 1968 by James Earl Ray. In The Dreamer the subplot takes up King's story as a messianic model for Mary, the girlfriend of the Black Briton, who is trying to come to terms with her boyfriend's racist murder.

The play begins with the cast addressing the audience in English accents. It is present day Britain. Paul tries to quell Mary's thirst for revenge by having her meditate on Martin Luther King's philosophy of non-violence, a philosophy he stuck to in the face of provocation from white bigots and the militant Black Power movement.

Always the character of Mary is vulnerable - and yet strong - and serves to show that the battle King fought is far from won. At the same time we see that The Movement did not serve black women particularly well.