A Hansberry cornucopia

Time flies when you’re at the cusp of a sweeping social movement. First produced off-Broadway in 1969, “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” a sweeping sampling from the letters, memoirs and plays of Lorraine Hansberry, now celebrates its 35th anniversary with a revival at the Fountain Theatre in Hollywood.

In 1959, the then-29-year-old Hansberry vaulted to fame with the premiere of “A Raisin in the Sun.” The play excited controversy among black intellectuals of the day as being too assimilationist, yet it has stood the test of decades, remaining Hansberry’s acknowledged masterwork.

Before her early death from cancer in 1965, Hansberry actively struggled to match or surpass the deathless dramatic legacy of “Raisin,” but was distracted by the tumult of the times, her increasing political activism, and the devouring demands of her own literary celebrity.

Compiled by Hansberry’s ex-husband and literary executor, Robert Nemiroff, “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” richly reflects that struggle. The title derives from Hansberry’s now-famous address to the winners of a United Negro College Fund writing contest, delivered in its entirety during the course of the play. That speech is a highlight of the production, as is the wonderful, climactic scene from “Raisin” that is included.

Scenes from Hansberry’s less successful second play, “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window,” hold interest primarily as a barometer of a shifting society but can’t match the dramatic heft of “Raisin.” Selections from Hansberry’s other writings range from mature artistic reflections to the naive musings of a young artist still struggling to find her voice.

There are few surprises in Eileen Mack Knight’s respectful but occasionally funereal staging, which features a passionate ensemble and a full-throated a cappella gospel chorus that wows the audience at regular intervals. In her overly reverential approach to her material, Knight tends to miss the beats of balancing humor that would have kept the piece as lively in tone as its music. Among the excellent cast, Esther Scott is a particular standout, supplying warmth and drollery in lavish measure.

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‘To Be Young, Gifted and Black’

Where: Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Hollywood

When: Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.

Ends: Feb. 23

Price: $25

Contact: (323) 663-1525

Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes