By Ericka Alston Buck
Special to the AFRO
Baltimore Center Stage is taking audiences from the comfort of their seats straight into a prison visiting room. “The Peculiar Patriot,” presented by Emmy-winning storyteller Lena Waithe and written and produced by Liza Jessie Peterson, isn’t just a play; it’s a powerful and unfiltered look at the realities of mass incarceration in America.
Waithe said she was drawn to the project because of Peterson herself. “Liza is the reason,” she explained. “Her pure heart and passion for the subject matter is inspiring. Mass incarceration is profitable, and a lot of people don’t know that. She’s getting the message out so we all can be aware of the prison industrial complex. She is not only here to entertain but to educate.” That framing was felt throughout the play.
For 90 minutes, Peterson embodies Betsy LaQuanda Ross, a woman who spends her weekends visiting friends and family behind bars. Through Betsy’s sharp humor and raw striking honesty, Peterson brings to life the routines that too many families know well—the long bus rides, the security checks, and the short, precious visits that never feel long enough.
In a city like Baltimore, where so many families have felt the impact of incarceration, the story lands with deep familiarity. It can be felt in the theater, the nods, the laughter, the stillness when Peterson’s words hit home.
“I work every day with returning citizens,” said Denise Harper. “This play mirrored what I see, the love and the pain of families fighting to keep hope alive.”
Waithe said that was exactly the point of bringing the production to Baltimore. “I hope it causes them to examine what they think about prisons and those behind bars,” she said, “and the people that have to travel hours and hours to visit them.” Her comments echoed what was happening in the audience – people recognizing themselves, their mothers, cousins and partners in Betsy’s story.
Peterson’s power as a performer lies in her ability to balance humor and heartbreak. Her Betsy was funny, grounded and painfully real, bringing moments of laughter to heavy truths without ever softening their weight. When audiences meet her incarcerated friend Jo Jo, they are fully invested, waiting for their next visit. What began as one woman’s story became a portrait of love and loyalty in the face of a system that breaks families apart.
The set, designed to resemble a correctional facility’s visiting room, adds to the realism and emotional weight. Director Talvin Wilks used silence as skillfully as sound, allowing Peterson’s words to breathe. The lighting and projections pull the audience deeper into Betsy’s world, illuminating both the humor and the hurt. “It felt like Liza was telling my story,” said Angela Thomas, whose son is serving a 10-year sentence. “I laughed, cried and felt seen.”
During the post-show talkback, the audience had the opportunity to meet Liza Jessie Peterson and hear firsthand the inspiration behind her work. She spoke about her personal experiences visiting friends in prison and her years teaching incarcerated adolescents on Rikers Island, stories that gave depth and authenticity to Betsy’s voice and the people we met on the stage. Artist Derrick Admas, who led the discussion, added thoughtful perspective on how “The Peculiar Patriot” connects art and advocacy and forces audiences to face uncomfortable truths about the prison system.
For Waithe, that tension – art that moves you and art that makes you look in the mirror – isn’t accidental. “Every piece of art is different. The purpose always has to be authenticity,” she said. “If it just entertains that’s fine. If it causes someone to lean into their own purpose that’s fine too. Artists have a lot to carry. Holding America accountable has to be everyone’s job. Not just the job of those that create for a living.”
That lens made Peterson’s performance feel less like a monologue and more like a testimony.
“I didn’t expect to be as affected as I was,” said Marcus Greene. “It really made me think about people I’ve known who’ve been locked up, and what that experience does to families.”
“The Peculiar Patriot” is more than theater, it is testimony. Peterson doesn’t just perform; she bears witness. And with her fearless storytelling, paired with Lena Waithe’s intentional presentation, Baltimore Center Stage is delivering a production that demands attention and refuses to let audiences look away.
“The Peculiar Patriot” runs through Nov. 9, 2025, at Baltimore Center Stage.