I know the reviews have been pretty stellar, but I was overwhelmingly underwhelmed by this production. The set is really well executed and detailed, the tone and mood are set excellently...but the material is dated, and on the night I saw it actors were dropping lines like greased melons.
Uggams opens up with this ridiculous memory, staring at a string of pearls saying the name of an old lover over and over in a southern drawl --- it was supposed to be engaging, but I felt like I was watching a "Waiting for Guffman" moment. There's also a testifying/church scene that goes on for about fifteen minutes too long. Seriously, I get the importance and tonal validity of the Southern church thing..but twenty minutes of the act was swallowed by redundant praising of the Lord (we get it. You're a family. You love God. PRAISES and what not).
And I was REALLY turned off by the Times' flowery, butt-kissing coverage of DaCosta and Uggams today. A whole paragraph dedicated to DaCosta's "jewel-shaped face" and "coffee-cup sized earrings" and mini-skirt that sharply contrasts the coservative garb she wears onstage? WTF ARE YOU RAMBLING ABOUT THIS FOR????
John Earl Jenks was fabulous, however. And DaCosta shows promise, but needs more time onstage. Uggams, usually a pleasure, underperformed - at least the night I saw it.
I DON'T want to go there and start an arguement!! But I feel that some of the glowing reviews overlooked problems with the text, performances and direction because it would be blasphemy to step on the toes of The Negro Theatre Ensemble so early in the season. I look forward to seeing their next production, but I hope its better than this one.
"It could be worse. You could have majored in TECH theater...then you'd really be poor."
