eveningsout

Snap queens and sacred

cows: a gallery worth seeing

RICHARD H. MORRIS, JR.

Stephanie Stovall as Aunt Ethel, Kimberly Brown as Lala Lamazing Grace and Katrice Monee Headd as Topsy Washington are just three of the exhibits on display in George C. Wolfe's The Colored Museum.

by Anthony Glassman

Cleveland-Twenty years ago, a gallery opened in New York City, presenting a unique look at sacred cows and hidden histories.

It is The Colored Museum, and admission can be a life-changing experience.

Written by George C. Wolfe, a playwright and director most recently lauded for directing the HBO film Lackawanna Blues (he got a Director's Guild of America award for it last week), The Colored Museum is an intense, emotional and often comic look at the black community, pulling no punches as it examines subjects as diverse as A Raisin in the Sun, Ebony magazine and cultural identity as a form of resistance.

As he is perhaps the second most famous gay African American playwright after Langston Hughes, it is fitting that Wolfe's play is being produced at Karamu House, America's oldest African-American cultural arts institution. In existence since 1915, Karamu counts Hughes himself among its alumni.

The play's set-up is as interesting as its execution: a museum where the exhibits are different types in the history of blacks in America. Much like any museum, one experiences an exhibit, then moves on to the next.

It starts, logically enough, with a slave ship now an airliner complete with a flight attendant whose mantra is, "We don't hear any drums. We will not rebel."

One of the funniest and most subversive sketches is undoubtedly "The Last Mama-onthe-Couch Play," a send-up of A Raisin in the Sun where, along the course of events, everyone gets an award for their acting except for the son, who simply gets shot by The Man for his troubles. As Mama wails, "Why couldn't he have been born into an all-black musical? Nobody ever dies in an all-black musical," Wolfe tugs on the tail of Black Theater's most sacred of sacred cows.

For sheer intensity, "Soldier with a Secret" takes the day, as Vietnam-era soldier Junie Robinson tells the audience about how he died and came back with the ability to see the future on his fellow soldiers' faces. His method of protecting them, however, may leave a little to be desired.

Of course, gay audiences will want to pay special heed to "The Gospel According to Miss Roj," a monologue by a snap queen in leopard-print tights. After two decades, the sassy sister should be outdated. Snap-as-comeback should have fallen by the wayside years ago, as did "Men on Film" on In Living Color

or the comedic drag-trio road movie.

But Miss Roj is still as valid today as when she first took the stage in 1986. If anything, the current political climate may have made her more "of the moment" than ever, as she snaps away the pain, the hatred, the anger. Miss Roj is, you see, from another galaxy, and snapping is a super-power.

Out of the eleven vignettes presented, there is not a single one that fails to hit its mark, either humorously or emotionally. Director Caroline Jackson Smith has assembled an exceptional cast whose professionalism belies their Midwestern locale. While productions at theaters around Cleveland often have at least one actor whose at-rest mannerisms suggest a high school production of Death of a Salesman, hands held awkwardly at the sides waiting for the next cue, the quintet in this production seldom if ever seemed forced or simply awaiting their next moment.

The three women, Kimberly Brown, Katrice Monee Headd and Stephanie Stovall, could simply step off Karamu's stage and onto a television or movie screen at any time.

Headd's girlish innocence in "Lala's Opening," Brown's all-American chirpiness in "Git on Board," and Stovall's sharp-edged wit in just about every sketch she's in, all exemplify the perfection of the casting.

The men, as well, acquit themselves admirably. Jimmie Woody's performances as Junie Robinson in "Soldier with a Secret" or as the Kid in "Symbiosis" were almost spine-tinglingly good.

G. Carlos Henderson was perhaps the weakest link in the production, although if a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, these performers could tow a medium-sized continent. His only flaw lies in the fact that he seems more comfortable moving than talking, which is not surprising given that he is also dancing with Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theater this season. His diction is a little too cultured for Miss Roj, perhaps, but the sight of him in a slinky blouse, leopardprint tights and some really awful beige pumps more than make up for it. And his passion, his fire, match that of Miss Roj perfectly.

The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe will be open for business Thursdays through Sundays until February 19. Showtimes are 8 pm, 3 pm on Sundays, and tickets are $18 and $21. Discounts for students and seniors are available.

For more information or to buy tickets, call 216-795-7070 or go to www.karamu.com. Karamu House is located at 2355 East 89th Street in Cleveland.

February 3, 2006 oven productions presents

31st

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Womyn's Variety Show

Saturday, February 18th

Followed by the

Fabulous Party

with three DJs!

Tickets can be purchased at:

• The Nickel, 4365 State Rd., Cleveland 216-661-1314

Body Language, 11424 Lorain Ave., Cleve 216-251-3330

New Location!

The Temple

(East 105th and Ansel Road), University Circle Doors open at 6 PM, Show at 7:30 PM Tickets: $20 for the Show and Party After 10 PM, Tickets are $10 for the Party Only. (Sliding scale available, Call by 2/11/06. 216-375-0780)

• Diverse Universe, 12011 Detroit Ave., Lakewood 216-221-4297

• Inn on Coventry, 2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., Cleve Hts. 216-371-1811 Limited seating for 500 at the show

Oven Productions Fundraiser!

Sat, February 4th @ the Nickel!

4365 State Rd, Cleve. Feat., Alexis Antes, Burning Sage Acoustic Duo, & Comedy by Joyce Scoglietti. 10 PM, $5 cover

Women only, 18 and over

We need acts, vendors, and volunteers.

Call Marcia ASAP at 216-375-0780

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