Grief Bridges Racial Divides in ‘One Year to Die’
Play runs from Sept. 20-29 at Matthews Playhouse
In a world torn apart by war and divided by race, can the shared experience of loss turn two neighbors into unlikely allies? This is the question at the core of One Year to Die, a new play by Dr. Charles LaBorde that premieres at Matthews Playhouse on Sept. 20.
Set in 1940s Louisiana, the drama explores how two mothers, one white and one Black, navigate the treacherous waters of grief and societal expectations when they learn that both of their sons are missing in action on the World War II front.
As they helplessly await news, working together to stitch a memorial quilt, what actually results from their time together is an unbreakable bond that defies the norms of their time.
LaBorde’s journey to writing One Year to Die began with a personal connection to history and World War II. While researching the story of his uncle, who was killed during the war, he discovered an interesting if morbid piece of trivia.
“I learned that if you were missing in action, lost at sea, they would wait one year and a day before declaring you dead,” LaBorde explained.
This revelation sparked a question that would become the heart of the play: As a loved one, what do you do for that year?
Drawing inspiration from his family’s personal history, LaBorde grappled with themes of racial division and shared grief to create this story.
“It always fascinated me about my grandmother — who was a wonderful, sweet little lady — how she coped with the loss of this son during the war,” he reflected.
Stepping into 1940s Louisiana
One Year to Die revolves around the unlikely friendship between two grieving mothers. Paula Baldwin, who plays Edwina, a white mother of Cajun ethnicity, describes this central relationship: “Both characters are not afraid to go with their heart. And that, to me, is the beauty of the show — the friendship that happens.”
To immerse the audience in the period, the production team has focused on portraying historically accurate details.
Director Dennis Delamar highlighted one such element: “We have an authentic old radio on the set that people [used to] listen to FDR during the war. I insisted that it be in the play.”
Dr. Corlis Hayes, who portrays Ella, the African-American mother, noted that, though the show may appear to be about loss, at its core it’s really a love story.
“Love has no boundaries. Love has no skin color. Love is love whoever you choose,” Hayes told Queen City Nerve. “And I think it shows that between these two women, they do have a real love for children, and it took those two boys to bring them together.”
LaBorde advised audiences to come prepared for an emotional experience. “Some of these scenes…they’re very moving,” he noted, adding with a chuckle, “Bring hankies or Kleenex … it’s that kind of play.”
Why ‘One Year to Die’ matters now
While set nearly 80 years in the past, LaBorde said he sees clear parallels to current societal divisions, specifically in how divided the country currently is in the lead-up to the coming presidential election.
The play serves as both a reminder of progress made and a call to continue the work of seeking unity, said Hayes.
“[The play] is optimistic. It gives people hope. But at the same time, people gotta realize this was a challenging period in American history,” she said.
Following a reckoning around diversity and representation in theatre productions across the country in 2020, LaBorde was especially aware of potential criticisms that he might face as a white man writing about African American experiences.
“In early readings, people were saying, ‘You’re an old white man writing, creating characters of African American women,'” he recalls.
He ensured throughout the writing process that Ella, as an African American character, drives much of the narrative, he said.
“I wanted to avoid the idea of, ‘Oh, the nice white people are [helping] the Black lady,’” he explained. “[The quilt] is her project, her idea. Ultimately, the Cajun woman just goes along for the ride.”
Read more: Charlotte Theatre Scene Faces Up To Adversity and Diversity in Dual Crisis (2020)
By presenting these challenging themes through stories, One Year to Die invites audiences to consider how shared experiences can lead to empathy.
As Baldwin put it, “We’re all alike. We all want the same things, ultimately, and love and kindness. If the world had more kindness and was a little more open to hear and listen to other people’s view of things, we’d be a lot better off.”
Delamar echoed Baldwin’s sentiments, stating that he hopes people will see their own lives in this tale despite its mid-20th-century setting.
It’s a very human story, and you kind of learn from it, too,” he said. “I think you learn lessons about life. A good play will do that.”
One Year to Die opens at Matthews Playhouse, located at 100 East McDowell St. in Matthews, on Sept. 20 and runs through Sept. 29. Tickets range from $11-$20. A special pay-what-you-can preview on Thursday, Sept. 19 will benefit the Matthews Veterans Memorial Restoration Project.
