It’s 1918 in South Carolina. World War I is still raging in Europe, while at home, racism and Spanish influenza spread contagiously throughout the population. It is against that backdrop of disease and racism Alice Childress builds and manipulates her characters in such a way that, no matter what the current year, it is easy to envision those times past and juxtaposition them against the current values of today. One could easily look at Childress’ Wedding Band as a modern play about today’s racism and disease (AIDS).So it should be applauded that the OSU Theater Department has produced Childress’ play, and provided the audience with a glimpse of societal mores that in many ways appear unchanged since 1918.The strong cast of characters, and the intimacy of Drake Union’s Stadium II Theater allowed a close bond to develop quickly between players and audience. Dramatic dialogue was excellent. The use of Carolinian accent was neither overdone nor understated and line delivery was crisp and timed.The accommodating set was well-designed and allowed good visual lines of all action. The picket fence bordering the edge of the thrust stage gave a nice delineation of action, as did the functional water pump. Individually, each of the players in Wedding Band performed strongly, and as an ensemble, came together to give the play a balanced and tight feel. Anike as Julia, and Glenn Peters as Herman, struck a dynamic balance early in their struggle and carried the tension throughout the action.Venus Opal Reese, Kimberly Ann Floyd, and Cezanne Charles provided strong supporting characters as Fanny, Lula, and Mattie. Enrique A Fonseca, Jr. portraying Nelson, Lula’s adopted son, delivered a character who made the audience listen to his lines which revealed the racism he experienced even as a United States soldier. And Giles Davies, as The Bell Man, gave a personal voice to that racism in such a way the audience almost reacted to his presence on stage with hisses.Overall this is a fine performance that has went beyond the usual university level of dramatic theater and made the leap into the realms of a production by CATCO or a similar regional theater. Congratulations to the cast and everyone involved with this production.Wedding Band, by Alice Childress, runs May 7-10, 14-17, and 21-24. For ticket information contact The University Box Office: 292-2295.