A HEATED DISCUSSION - Review

 

 Well, Robey Theatre is back and its choice for first production after Covid is a challenging one by Levy Lee Simon. 

We find ourselves eavesdropping on twelve politically and philosophically illustrious Black iconic figures, brought from the afterlife by three Orisha African deities. The purpose is to hear their viewpoints on the state of their African descendants in America today.

            After heart-breaking live footage of all too familiar racist killings, the trio asks their opinions on what causes these atrocities, exactly who is responsible, and how can people who are labeled as Black fight back.

            The most powerful argument for militant pushback was Malcolm X (David Bollar) while Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (Garret Davis) and Maya Angelou (Kimberly Bailey) pleaded for peace and forgiveness. Most devastating was Ida B. Wells' (Quonta Beasley) description of a lynching and its aftermath. Most candid were Richard Pryor (Philip Bell), Tupac Shakur (Kyle Sparks) and Zora Neale Hurston (Vanja Renee). Most calmly measured were James Baldwin (Julio Hanson) and Bob Marley (Alex W.S.T. Chumley).

Most hot-headed was Dr. Francess Welsing Cress (Rosie Lee Hooks) whose passionate indictments almost silenced her opponents. Most indignant were Lorraine Hansberry (Tiffany Cole) and Nina Simone (Lashada Jackson). Most commanding was a Spirit Warrior (Ben Guillory) whose final argument was a reminder of the strength that shows a beleaguered people's triumph.

            Produced and directed by Guillory, this deeply disturbing play reveals more injustice than anyone can bear and still live life with joy. Ironically, it opened the same week that, after a brutal interrogation, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed as the first African American woman to serve as a justice of the United States Supreme Court. The discussion continues!

            The Robey Theatre, Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St, Downtown LA. Reservations: (213) 489-7402. 

Photos by Jermaine Alexander.

A DEATH-DEFYING ESCAPE - in Hollywood - REVIEW

 

Fact: Discovering at age 10 that the messes in her life were great fodder for comedy, Judy Carter overcame a speech impediment and began doing magic shows for birthday parties — leading to a full-page story in the Los Angeles Times. She was the first woman to perform at the Magic Castle Close-Up Gallery in Hollywood — where she was literally picked up and thrown out because “Cards are for men.” Undaunted, she continued developing her own style of magic, creating a death-defying escape from her grandmother’s girdle and sawing a man in half. At one engagement, when the airlines lost her luggage, she went on without her tricks — and instantly became a standup comic. Since then, she has appeared on over 100 TV shows and four comedy cable specials, as well as opening for Prince and playing Vegas.

Review: Well, about halfway through this delightful show Judy mentioned that she is the author of some books. Click! I suddenly realized I have long admired her for her book "The Message of You." About five years ago, I was a member of comedienne Rebecca O'Brien's Standup Comedy Workshop and the tome that was the focus for the year I attended was Judy Carter's advisory in that book. Tell about your own life, inspire people to live and love and laugh, while sharing what might even be considered a sad or tragic life story. So, how to remain a disinterested theater critic when she was an important influence on my own creative life?

          In this terrific show, directed by Lee Costello, having conquered the comedy world, and had strong impact as an author, Judy now brings her magic to live theater. We can see that taking chances was her path to success as she reaches back to a turbulent childhood where doing magic tricks entertained her friends and pleased her hypercritical parents. There was a tragedy in her early life that colored her young days and helped determine her future drive to succeed, a revelation that brought tears to my eyes. However, the show itself remedied this pain with its humor and wonder.

          Magic requires that we believe what we see and, believe me, this is a show not to be missed. Judy herself draws us close, and, with the admirable assistance of two brilliant actors, brings her story to life. Both play many roles: Lyndsi LaRose is moving as her tremulous mother and sensitive lover, while Kevin Scott Allen is awesome as her domineering father, horny mentor and hilarious bikini-clad 'magicians assistant'!

          At Hudson Guild Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles. 

Order tickets at www.deathdefyingescape.com. Photos by J.