One of the criticisms we’ve had about period pieces that center Black people is the fact that so many of the stories center around slavery, struggle and subservience.
But a new film seeks to do something different. The play The House That Will Not Stand, is becoming a film. The play, inspired partially by The House of Bernarda Alba is about free, Black Creole women who became millionaires in New Orleans during the 1800s, despite slavery, sexism and more. The women find their fortunes through plaçage— the practice of common law marriages or civil unions between White men, Black, Native American and biracial women.
According to Shadow and Act, the play, written by Marcus Gardley, has been optioned by MWM Studios. Gardley, who has written for Showtime’s “The Chi” will write the script for the film adaptation. The play premiered at the New York Theatre Workshop this year and was directed by Liliana Blain-Cruz.
The original cast was comprised of Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Juliana Canfield, Harriet D. Foy, Lynda Gravátt, Nedra McClyde, Marie Thomas and Michelle Wilson.
The film is in the early stages of development but fans are already anticipating this type of story.
