Sisters Debbie Allen And Phylicia Rashad Team Up For PBS Play The Old Settler'

Jet, Feb 26, 2001

Sisters Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad make their dramatic debut as sisters in the PBS production of the play, The Old Settler.

Allen produces and directs the play written by John Henry Redwood that chronicles the lives and volatile relationship of two sisters in wartime Harlem. Allen plays Quilly, a woman newly separated from her husband who comes to live with her never-married sister, Elizabeth. Quilly is upset to learn that her cash-strapped sister has rented a room in the tiny apartment to a handsome young boarder, Husband Witherspoon (Bumper Robinson). Husband and Elizabeth, over the strenuous objections of everybody, begin a love affair. The title The Old Settler refers to a woman who's reached middle age with zero prospects for marriage.

"I saw this production in New York and was so taken by it," Rashad told JET. "I wasn't thinking about casting when I bought the rights, just that the world needs to see it. It's a great piece. I've worked with John Henry Redwood and it was written so sensitively." She bought the rights to it and immediately sent it to sister Allen in Los Angeles. Allen immediately felt it was right for the two of them and had discussions with the PBS affiliate in Los Angeles where plays were being done for television.

Allen previously directed her sister in the NBC movie Polly and the two performed together in Allen's television special almost 13 years ago. But this marks their first time playing sisters. "I've worked with Debbie before under her direction but this is a first," Rashad said. "There are no words to describe this respect, this newly-found respect I have for her. She is focused on everything, all the technical aspects of scripts, the nuances of performances, camera angles. It's a joy working with her."

Allen is equally positive about working with her older sister. "Phylicia and I are best friends. And Chocolate Swan (Rashad's company) and Red Bird Productions have really come together. We have a company together called DAD (Dr. Allen's Daughters in reference to their late father). We've acted together, but not like this. These women are dealing with some serious issues, the war, the depression, racial issues."

Allen said wearing so many hats again is not easy, but worth it. "Thank God my children are older (daughter Vivian is 16 and son Norman Jr. is 13). I leave home at 4:45 a.m. and sometimes leave the set at 7:30 p.m. And I have the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Culver City. I don't sleep much, but this is no time to sleep. This is the time to do."

And the two are planning much more together. "We have big plans. I want Phylicia and me to keep going. This has been a honeymoon for us. We have those subtleties that resonate between us. Phylicia's character is written much like she is and mine is like me. My character is always talking, running that mouth."

The Old Settler will air in the spring on PBS stations.