“Soldiers, we have to always be prepared for war—even our own.”

Such is the psychological distress of the characters in Black Anthology’s performance of “Masquerade.” Opening night, the Edison Theatre hummed with the energy of a full house. People filtered in through the doors until the very last minute to witness a performance promising drama, dance and a story that would sit with us long after the curtains closed.

Finally, the lights dimmed and a silence fell over the room. The characters conquered the stage in the moments to follow, and at once, everyone was in a trance.

Morad Suliman | Student Life

J.T. Bridges, Jenise Sheppard and Kentrell Jameson step forward to thunderous applause as the siblings of the Honore family during the final curtain call for Black Anthology’s “Masquerade.” This years’ Black Anthology performance focused on mental health and masculinity within the Black community.

What impressed me the most about this show was the theatrics. Each cast member possessed an air of confidence, be it a certain quirk or a special walk, that brought the performance to a whole new level of entertainment. The ease with which they delivered their dialogues displayed their familiarity with each other, with the words and with the message of the story itself. There was a particular passion, a harmony with the script that each cast member possessed, shining through their personas on stage.

Periodically, the theater was flooded with a kaleidoscope of colors as dancers enchanted the audience with their grace, adding a unique zest to the show. Watching them take the stage with such verve and enthusiasm, I could tell they were all enjoying it. Each scene and dance was followed by thunderous applause along with cacophonous whooping and whistling.

Dancer freshman Hannah Stevens told me, “I am very proud of all the hard work everyone put in to make ‘Masquerade’ happen this year. Black Anthology feels like family to me, and I am so happy to have gotten to work with such lovely people my first year.”

Closing with suspense, “Masquerade” left people reeling after the final few minutes. What didn’t the plotline—written by sophomore Dakotah Jennifer—touch upon? Toxic masculine ideals, sexist stigma, closeted dreams, the harsh endings it brings to some and the guilt that others carry with them were all explored over the course of the show. There appeared to be something more, however, that I appreciated in the narrative. I believe it to be a strength in recognizing when things are not okay. This, combined with a message of acknowledging mental illness, gave the show the ultimate punch, imprinting itself in the minds of every viewer.

“It was amazing. They said that their goal was to spark discussion and I think they nailed it,” said freshman Jasmina Duliman.

“Masquerade” reminds us that we are often caught believing and wanting things to be perfect—but how long can we masquerade under a false pretense? It requires courage to step up and accept a fault. That’s when we begin to change for the better.