Three years after the
wreckage of Katrina, a 14-year old girl, who feels unloved, runs away from her embittered
and angry mother. Set in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward, where adults are fighting
to keep their damaged homes, the play focuses on this teenager’s angst.
However, when we meet her she is stealing from a local shop owner who inexplicably
offers her a job. Later, when we understand why she is alone, our sympathies shift
to her mother’s fight to survive as we become aware of the social issues behind
abandonment.
Written by Jeremy
J. Kamps, and directed
with passion by Shirley Jo Finney, the fine cast bring these people to life. Camille
Spirlin is an impish brat as Kali, Maya Lynne Robinson a beleaguered soul as
her mother, and Armando Rey kindness itself as the shop owner.
Strong support
by Jeris Poindexter, Karen Malina White, Leith Burke and Brian Tichnell.
Fountain co-artistic
director Stephen Sachs
states, “Our mission is
to use theater as a vehicle to raise awareness and empathy for the human
condition.” A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to the Houston
Food Bank in Texas!
I am reluctant to complain
but, due to the southern accents, and the speed and pitch of Kali’s monologues,
much of the dialogue was unintelligible. Also, the play runs 1 hour 40 minutes with
no intermission, which for audience members needing a break meant disturbing
the entire show by walking conspicuously through the action.
At
The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain
Ave. LA (at Normandie) through
Nov. 5. Tickets: 323- 663-1525 or www.FountainTheatre.com.
Photos by Ed Krieger.
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