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Jasmine Guy’s ‘For Colored Girls…’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THEATER REVIEW. Grade: B+
When it comes to arts marketing, attaching a celebrity name to a project is never a bad idea. Broadway is famous for it. Now Atlanta’s IKAM Productions has taken the savvy step of engaging Jasmine Guy to direct “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf.”
The good news is that the former star of TV’s “A Different World” delivers a fine reading of the Ntozake Shange classic.
For her directorial debut, the actress who grew up in Atlanta has assembled a top-notch cast and imaginatively annotated the script with a dazzling array of soulful vocals and fluid movement that speaks to her history as a dancer. There’s even a smiling African drummer (Omelika Kuumba) with an arsenal of gourds, bells and other noise-making percussive doo-dads that the actors use to punctuate their storytelling.
Lest you don’t know Shange’s “choreopoem,” it’s a sequence of mostly monologues told by a nameless company of six women who are distinguished by the colors of their costumes (Lady in Red, Lady in Purple, etc.).
Opening with a dazzling incantatory speech by Lady in Orange (the terrific Terry Burrell), the piece simmers with hothouse sensuality, lusty sexual initiation, bitter disappointments, ruined affairs and the accumulated emotional chaos of a group of women who are trying to redefine themselves in a world that has been forever dominated by the opposite sex. Though we get only passing physical suggestions of men in “For Colored Girls,” the passion and brutality of the male animal is fully described by their partners.
First produced on Broadway in 1975, having bubbled up from the political soup of Vietnam and the feminist movement, “For Colored Girls” parallels the work of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison. Although the material is oftentimes bleak and primal, it is also ripe with comedic potential, which these spirited women imbue with kicky energy and attitude.
Among the younger company members, Danielle Deadwyler (Lady in Yellow) and Yakini Horn (Lady in Blue) are particularly funny, while the husky-voiced Crystal Fox (Lady in Red) and the elegant Nevaina Rhodes (Lady in Green) bring depth and maturity to the drama. Burrell provides a good measure of sauciness and cheek, and Chinai Hardy (Lady in Purple) makes for a gorgeous and mesmerizing presence.
The nicest thing we can say about Guy’s gospel-inflected, Ailey-inspired choreography is that we wish there were more of it. From a cacaphony of words and language, she wrings a lovely movement vocabulary. The women run with strips of billowing colored fabric, pretend they are young girls performing astonishing jump-rope tricks and strut their stuff to the sound of ’70s funk.
A celebration of the joy and terror of the human condition, “For Colored Girls” is ultimately a rainbow-colored testimonial to the triumph of hope and healing. Jasmine Guy does it proud.
THE 411: 8 p.m. tonight-Saturday. 1 p.m. Saturday. 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. $28-$35. IKAM Productions, 14th Street Playhouse, 173 14th St. N.E., Midtown. 404-914-7936, ikamproductions.com
Bottom line: Jasmine Guy proves herself an eloquent director.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Theater
Comments
By KeithKNOWS
August 26, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
I was really excited, actually thrilled to see this play again, I saw it while residing in Minneapolis, quite a few years ago(there you go, guessing my age) The 14th Street Playhouse was filled to capacity(SOLD OUT), not a spare seat was in the house. The audience consisted of young teenage girls, mostly women, and a hand full of men. Jasmine Guy(director and choreographer) greeted the audience with a warm and friendly embrace. Enough already, let’s talk about the play.. 7 beautiful dynamic women poised, graceful, and always on point, performed the brutal truths and the heartbreaking realities of the lives of black women. This choreopoem is performed by some amazing women who talk about spirituality, violence, female sexuality, music, and their heritage. The all women ensemble includes, Crystal King(tv veteran, “In the Heat of the Night”) & Omelika (sistah’s dance, vocal, percussion group, Giwayen Mata). Just wanna warn you, this play is for mature audiences only, there’s profanity and plenty of …you know what I mean(use your imagination..smile..I’m blushing) very tastefully done I might add. Each unique personality takes center stage getting at least one unbroken moment and everything connects and flows smoothly. One moving part for me, is the tribute to Haitian Leader Toussaint L’Ouverture portrayed by “Terry Burrell”(local actress, “Ain’t Misbehavin’, Sophisticated ladies and more) from the viewpoint of a 8 year old girl, her admiration and appreciation. It’s truly a celebration of Sistahood and women’s loyalties to women. I know you want me to tell you more, you’ve got to go see it, and tell me what you think? Be sure to bring someone with you, so you’ll have plenty to talk about later.
By Nikki
August 27, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Keith knows,
Thank you for the honest and moving review of the play. I have seent his play several times and only wish I was in Atlanta to view J. Guys version. I can only imagine how Omelika (the drummer from one of Atlanta’s best dance troops) adds depth to this play. Sounds splendid. You should have written the review for the journal, Wendell (AJC) gives a poor review of the depth of one of the best plays that still stands the test of time from 1975 till today!
Thanks you
By NT
August 27, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
Seeing the play tonight. Cannot wait!!
By Denise
August 27, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
I would love to see Ms. Guy’s production but I will be out of town. I was able to see this play in the late 90’s at the 14th Street Playhouse, with Bernadine Mitchell as The Lady in Red…awesome!!! A close famly friend, Trazana Beverly, won a Tony Award for Best Actress in 1977. This is worth seeing…I hate I won’t make this production.
By Mo's mom
August 27, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Is the play appropriate enought to take a 5 year old boy to?
I want to go but don’t have a babysitter for my son.
By jwill
August 30, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
I loved the piece but wish Jasmine place the last monologue on the risers so we could really feel the effect of Crystal and Beau Willie. Overall, very well done.
By Rose
October 14, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
I am interested in seeing the play, directed by Jasmine Guy. Please send a schedule or tell me where the play is being presented now. I had heard the play would be in Macon, Ga. but not when or where in Macon. please forward update info on the play: For Colored Girls….’
thank you