Brianna Buckley, left, and Chanell Bell in “Crumbs from the Table of Joy,” by Lynn Nottage. (Photo by Michael Brosilow)

“Crumbs from the Table of Joy” – one of the playwright’s earliest works, now on stage at Raven Theatre – is continually engaging. And in the current climate, it also turns out to be uncannily timely.

Curtis Edward Jackson, left, and Rudy Galvan in Raven Theatre’s world premiere of “The Gentleman Caller.” (Photo by Michael Brosilow)

A richly evocative new play by Philip Dawkins is now receiving a vividly acted world premiere at Raven Theatre.