WORK IN PROGRESS

NAOMI AND RUTH

MUSIC: Tommy Dodson
LIBRETTO: Curtis W. Long

CAST OF CHARACTERS
Elliott - Husband and Father
Naomi - Elliott's Wife
Manny -Their Teen-aged Son
Charlie - Their Other Teen-aged Son
Ophelia - Manny's Wife
Ruth- Charlie's Wife
Bernie - Elliott's Brother

A Synopsis
(This opera is a work in progress. It depicts an African American family that leaves
the post-bellum South in order to seek a better life in the North.)

After the turn of the twentieth century, in the southeastern part of the United States, was a time when racial oppression, coupled with economic deprivation, drove large numbers of African Americans to the northern states, in search of more opportunities in the burgeoning Northern industries-and what was mistakenly believed to be a more tolerant racial climate.

Elliott, his wife Naomi and two sons, Manny and Charlie, are preparing to make the journey north, where they hope to find opportunities that will make their lives better. Elliott has been working in his father's blacksmith shop, along with his brother Bernie. Elliott, the more restless of the two, becomes disillusioned with the poor pay and maltreatment by their father. He realizes that his chances of finding other employment in the area are nil, so he decides to join the steady exodus northward, in hopes of bettering his family's situation.

After several years of regular employment in northern factories and an increased standard of living, Manny and Charlie marry local girls, Ophelia and Ruth, respectively.

Shortly thereafter, Elliott and his two sons are killed in an extremely violent race riot. Naomi and the girls are devastated. She counsels her daughters-in-law to return to their families and seek a new life. She had decided to go home, to be with her remaining family. Ophelia takes her advice and leaves. Ruth, however, is adamant in her protestations, and stubbornly refuses to leave her grieving mother-in-law. She vows to remain with her through thick and thin, never again to leave her side. Naomi has no choice but to relent.

Ruth returns south with Naomi. By this time, the Depression has arrived, and it hits the South particularly hard. After originally struggling in an unfamiliar ambience, Ruth, who had been a teacher up North, manages to find a similar position there, allowing her to provide for Naomi and herself.

One day, Elliott's brother Bernie comes to visit his sister-in-law Naomi. He has become a successful funeral director, and is still unmarried. He is so taken by Ruth, that he discreetly asks Naomi if it would be proper for him to ask her out. Although there is an age difference, Naomi is delighted at the prospect of having her family line continue through Ruth. The untimely deaths of both sons has left their widows childless. Bernie and Ruth eventually marry and produce a son.

At the christening, Naomi proclaims to all those gathered that there could be no one more faithful than her daughter-in-law Ruth, who refused to leave a devastated widow to mourn her tremendous loss alone. Now that Ruth has brought to her a new life, her burden will be considerably lessened.

Naomi takes the child in her arms. She weeps and gives thanks to God. After the ordeal of losing husband and sons at the same time, she now holds in her arms a child who bears their blood and name. She announces that he will be christened "Martin Luther."