A provocative portrait of racial politics

Playwright Thomas Gibbons plays both sides of the race card in “Permanent Collection” at the Greenway Court Theatre. Loosely based on the real-life controversy surrounding Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation, a financially beleaguered institution that endured charges of racism under the aegis of its controversial black director, the play examines the nature of racial politics in a politically correct age, when a single untoward utterance can destroy a career that took a lifetime to build.

Gibbons’ intellectually charged drama is a beautifully balanced dialectic that treats a complicated and emotional issue without cheap conclusions. This West Coast premiere, presented by the Robey Theatre Company and the Greenway Arts Alliance, is heartening confirmation that good new plays are out there and that some lucky few, as in this case, are brought to solidly rendered fruition.

As the play opens, Sterling North (assured Ben Guillory), a prominent African American marketing executive, has just been appointed director of the Morris Foundation, a collection of Impressionist art compiled by eccentric Alfred Morris (Kent Minault), the museum’s late founder, who appears in various flashback sequences.

Early in his tenure, North clashes with erudite art historian Paul Barrow (nicely underplayed by Doug Cox). Outraged that such treasures are kept out of the public’s eye, North wants to display some of the fabulous African collection currently in storage. Equally passionate in his beliefs, Barrow is eager to honor the stipulations in Morris’ will and preserve the collection unchanged. Both North and Barrow claim to be acting out of pure and unsullied love for art -- but as their dispute grows ever more fractious, their unspoken resentments come to the fore.

Co-directors Harry J. Lennix and Dwain Perry ensure solid performances from these unfaltering actors, many of whom are double cast. James Eric and Victoria Bellocq’s eye-catching set is a work of art in its own right. Despite a few line irregularities on opening night, Guillory proves a towering presence of classical dimension and strength.

However, it is Gibbons’ play that is the true star of the evening. Sophisticated and deft, it is a provocative treatment of the unanswerable.

*

‘Permanent Collection’

Where: Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Also 7 p.m. on May 1, 8 and 15.

Ends: May 15

Price: $25

Contact: (323) 655-7679, Ext. 100

Running time: 2 hours