By the Way, Meet Vera Stark

By the Way, Meet Vera Stark

Signature Theatre

The Pershing Square Signature Center

February 23, 2019

Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre

In By the Way, Meet Vera Stark playwright Lynn Nottage tackles the racial stereotypes generated by the early years of Hollywood.  Together with Director Kamilah Forbes, they put a mirror to the audience for a deep look at how these images still live inside our minds today.  Although first produced in 2011, this play has a timely voice.  The Signature Theatre production brings together an impeccable cast and design team to celebrate Ms. Nottage’s poignant and powerful writing.

Act I opens in Hollywood in 1933.  We are in the posh living room of movie start Gloria Mitchel (played by Jenni Barber).  She is preparing for a screen test with her maid, Vera Stark (played by Jessica Frances Dukes).  While Gloria is nervous, scattered, and high strung, Vera is grounded, focused, and strong-willed.  Vera wants to be a movie actress, yet the color of her skin creates great limitation for her in the movie industry.  In her small apartment she commiserates with her roommate Lottie (played by Heather Alicia Simms), while her second, fair-skinned roommate, Anna Mae (played by Carra Patterson), goes on a date with a white movie director.  Vera meets Leroy Barksdale (played by Warner Miller) while waiting for Gloria to complete her screen test.  Leroy is a musician who claims to be the “Guy Friday” for the film’s director, but turns out to be his chauffer.  All the characters collide at a Hollywood party hosted by Gloria, where their lives and careers are propelled into the lime light.

Warren Miller & Jessica Frances Dukes
Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre

Act II fast forward to 2003.  Vera Stark had success as a film actress, and a retrospective on her career is being presented.  The focus is on the movie she made with Gloria Mitchell in 1933.  The host, Herb Forrester (also played by Warner Miller) shows a 1973 television interview where Vera and Gloria are reunited and come close to spilling a few secrets of Hollywood glamour.

Jessica Francis Duke is captivating as Vera Stark.  She is direct and truthful in the early Hollywood scenes.  Her character’s optimism and determination keep the first act moving.  She and Warner Miller have an amazing chemistry.  Their scenes together are riveting.  They play each and every moment with scintillating musicality.  Ms. Dukes makes a brilliant transition in the portrayal of Vera in 1973.  Her presence is powerful, and her interpretation is rich in subtext that reveals volumes.

Jessica Frances Dukes & Jenni Barber
Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre

In the final scene, Ms. Nottage makes a bold statement about the courage and integrity of black women in early Hollywood.  Ms. Dukes and Ms. Barber play this moment to perfection, giving an eternal voice to the courage and self-awareness of these pioneers.

The Signature Theatre production of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark has been extended.  It is playing at The Pershing Square Signature Center through March 10.  Do whatever you can to get a ticket.  It is not to be missed.

Domenick Danza

The Cake

The Cake

Manhattan Theatre Club

New York City Stage I

February 21, 2019

  

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Bekah Brunstetter’s The Cake, at Manhattan Theatre Club, is a light and buttercream look at the serious matter of bigotry and hate.  The playwright explores the gray areas between extremes, allowing the audience time to find redeeming qualities and respect the flaws in all her characters.  Director Lynne Meadow allows the humor to take the lead and become the entryway for the audience to see the point of view of each character without judgement.  I left the theatre wanting cake, which according to Della, the main character, can be the solution to the all world’s problems.  I strongly agree.

Jen (played by Genevieve Angelson) returns to her North Carolina hometown to plan her wedding.  She visits her late mother’s best friend, Della (played by Debra Jo Rupp), who owns a well-loved local bakery.  Della is happy to see Jen and offers to bake the cake for her wedding, until she meets her fiancé, Macy (played by Marinda Anderson).  Della’s religious beliefs keep her from baking the wedding cake, yet she can’t help but feel the joy in Jen and Macy’s love for one another.  She tries to discuss the situation with her husband Tim (played by Dan Daily), but he is more immovable than she expected.

Debra Jo Rupp brings just the right balance to this character.  She is likable, sweet, and caring, while in the same moment stands adamantly on her committed beliefs.  Her character faces a perplexing dilemma.  She allows herself to examine her faith and allegiances.  Ms. Rupp finds flexibility within the character to create genuine moments of generosity and consideration.  

Playwright Bekah Brunstetter
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Ms. Brunstetter’s best written scenes are when Della is imagining her appearances on her favorite TV baking show.  Della’s greatest aspiration is to win that baking competition.  These scenes satirically address the character’s moral dilemma in a humorous and poignant manner, while illustrating how deeply it is affecting her.

The Manhattan Theatre Club production of The Cake, is playing at New York City Center Stage I through March 31.

Domenick Danza

Kiss Me, Kate!

Kiss Me, Kate!

Roundabout Theatre Company

Studio 54

February 16, 2019

Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company

The Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Kiss Me, Kate! is vibrant, jovial, and vivacious.  Kelli O’Hara and Will Chase make the well-known lead roles their own with a chemistry and style that rock the house.  Warren Carlyle’s choreography is sheer perfection.  Director Scott Ellis finds the right pace to keep the laughter flowing and the romantic moments touching and sentimental.

The story revolves around the out of town preview of a new musical version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.  Actor/Director Fred Graham (played by Will Chase) is starring as Petruchio opposite his ex-wife and diva, Lilli Vanessi (played by Kelli O’Hara), as Kate.  The sparks fly between the two actors backstage as well as onstage when Lilli receives an opening night bouquet from Fred by mistake.  The flowers are meant for Lois (played by Stephanie Styles), who is playing Bianca.  When Bill Calhoun (played by Corbin Bleu) signs Fred Graham’s name to an IOU for a gambling debt, two gangsters (played by John Pankow and Lance Coadie Williams) come to the theatre to collect.  Fred turns this around in his favor by using these two hit men to keep Lilli from walking off the show.

Kelli O'Hara, Corbin Bleu, Stephanie Styles, & Will Chase
Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company

Kelli O’Hara has an elegant and commanding presence.  Her rendition of “So in Love” is beautifully delivered.  Will Chase sings “Were Thine That Special Face,” and “Where is the Life that Late I Lead” with robust vigor.  Stephanie Styles brings down the house with “Always True to You in My Fashion,” including the well-deserved encores.  James T. Lane and the company open the second act with a magnificent “Too Darn Hot” that exuberantly lives up to its title.

This is the best of Cole Porter’s scores.  There are cuts and additions to the book and lyrics, made by Amanda Green, that keep the show running smoothly.  The addition of “From This Moment On” in the second act adds a new motivation for Lilli’s decision to return to Fred.  Changes in lyrics to the finale (both Shakespeare’s and Cole Porter’s) ring truthfully to the theme of the show, and add a message of gender equality.

Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company

Kiss Me, Kate! is playing at Studio 54 through June 2.  Don’t miss this outstanding production of a classic musical.

Domenick Danza

Mies Julie

Mies Julie

Classic Stage Company

February 2, 2019

Photo courtesy of Classic Stage Company

Classic Stage Company is presenting an adaptation of Miss Julie as part of their production of “Two 19^th Century Strindberg Plays in Repertory.”  Mies Julie is written by Yael Farber.  This passionate adaptation takes place on Freedom Day, 2012 in a farmhouse kitchen in Eastern Cape-Karoo, South Africa.  Shariffa Ali directs this cast of four powerful actors with a visceral understanding of their needs, motivations, and desires.

Elise Kibler & James Udom
Photo courtesy of Classic Stage Company

While Julie (played by Elise Kibler) dances with the workers of her father’s farm, Christine (played by Patrice Johnson Chevannes) scrubs the floors and cooks a concoction that will do away with the unborn pups of Julie’s pedigree hound.  Julie’s engagement has been broken off and her future and safety are in questions.  She seduces Christine’s son, John (played by James Udom).  He confesses his love for her, but knows his place as a hired hand.  Julie convinces John to leave with her, but he will not leave his mother behind.  Christine is haunted by spirits of her ancestors who were buried on the property before the land was confiscated by Julie’s father and the farmhouse was built.  They hold her to the place.  As the power shifts, a rash decision is made in the heat of an emotional moment.

James Udom & Elise Kibler
Photo courtesy of Classic Stage Company

The chemistry between Elise Kibler and James Udom is palpable.  This is vital to the storyline, and these two actors deliver genuine moments of lustful, heated opposition.  The clashes between them are truthful and grounded in deep emotion.  Both of their characters are deeply conflicted.  They are driven by strong desire that propels them forward, yet hindered by need and fear that roots them in place. 

Patrice Johnson Chevannes & James Udom
Photo courtesy of Classic Stage Company

Patrice Johnson Chevannes delivers a potent portrayal of Christine.  This character is the reminder to both Julie and John of where their loyalties must lie.  Just as John is about to leave with Julie, one look from Christine reminds him of his obligations and place in society.  Ms. Chevannes has the presence to pull this off with strong and subtle authenticity.

This production boils over with the vitality and desire of Strindberg’s classic play.  The impact of this adaptation is in its seventy-five minute running time.  Mies Julie is playing at Classic Stage Company in rep with a new version of The Dance of Death through March 10.

Domenick Danza