Tera Roberson
Staff Writer
Review
From issues of self-hatred and denial to homosexuality and religion, George C. Wolfe's The Colored Museum explores the many painful images of black culture in an attempt at an unparalleled form of satire, and it largely succeeds.
With each turn of the stage a layer of the past was unfolded. The old adage "laughing to keep from crying" was the vibe exuded from the predominantly black audience that stared on stage at their pasts being played out before their eyes. They laughed long, hearty laughs at the images that for so long have been associated with pain, struggle and suffering.
But struggle and suffering were far from the meaning and message being delivered to the spectators.
The play is very well written and peppered with just enough poignant statements to get the crowd thinking about its true meaning. Wolfe uses humor to "awaken, enlighten, warn and remind the audience of what American society has created." It is not in an attempt to bring them down, but rather to uplift their spirits and challenge them to stare negative images in the face in an effort to figure out why they hurt so much and how to rid themselves of them.
In the spirit of Michael Ray Charles' An American Artist's Work, The Colored Museum explores the heart of the source of pain in lives of blacks. Just as Charles used the canvas to create and bring stereotyped images to the forefront of society, Wolfe uses the stage.
Under the direction of The Ensemble's Sterling Vappie, the cast delivered a fresh, funny and solid performance. All with their own lessons to learn, the cast tackled a tough subject and scored a touchdown.
If an award category were ever created for Best Performance in a Pair of Patent-Leather Platforms, Adrian C. Porter would definitely take home the Tony for his portrayal of Miss Roj, a queen for the ages.
From Aunt Ethel cooking up a batch of Negroes to LaLa Lamazing Grace finally realizing that her race should not be so much of a burden, but more of a joy, the audience laughed outrageously at the stereotypes that have been created and negated throughout history.
But one of the most powerful statements of the evening was not made during the play but afterwards, as the cast, crew and director opened up the floor to the audience for a brief question-and-answer session.
As the audience members complimented the cast, director and choreographer for their superb work, a white audience member raised a great point when he admitted he found the play funny, but also challenging. At times he said he felt as if he were an "intruder" in the private lives of blacks. That admission is what the show is all about.
The Colored Museum plays at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, with a 1 p.m. brunch, through March 1. School matinees are at 10 a.m. today and Wednesday. Tickets are $12 to $25, and the student price is always $10 (excluding Sunday brunches).
The Ensemble Theatre is located at 3535 Main St. For more information and reservations, call (713) 520-0055.