WHAT: George C. Wolfe’s hilarious satire of African-American
identity crisis told through vaudeville-like sketches and monologues,
in a smart and energetic production for Karamu’s 90th anniversary
season. From Aunt Jemima to drag queens to unwed mothers, Wolfe
takes a whirlwind tour through the images and stereotypes of
black America. It’s one of the great plays of the late 20th
century, still as funny, shocking, and relevant as ever.
REASONS TO GO: A terrific quintet of actors do a bang-up
job with the multiple roles. Stephanie Stovall shakes the rafters
in the bluesy “Cookin’ with Aunt Ethel”, rules
the roost as an Oscar-clutching Mama in the “Raisin in the
Sun” parody, and finds a wide-eyed pathos as simple-minded
Normal Jean, hatching an unexpected egg. Elegant and suave, G.
Carlos Henderson sparkles as a sleek Ebony model and ambitious
businessman, then morphs into the delightfully bitchy snap queen
“Miss Roj”, downing rum in Tina Turner wig and leopard-skin
capris. Jimmie Woody, intensely dramatic as a Vietnam War grunt,
shows a giddily goofy side as a gay waiter and shufflin’
peapicker, and his resurrection from “murdered by The Man”
victim into cake-walking coon show dancer is sublimely funny.
Kimberly Brown has smart turns as the helpful stewardess on Celebrity
Slaveship and the Josephine Baker-like Lala Lamazing Grace. Tiny
Katrice Monee Headd bristles with ‘tude as a talking Afro
wig, and brings it on home as party-hearty girl Topsy Washington.
Henderson & Headd’s choreography is marvelous throughout.
EVEN MORE REASONS TO GO: Director Caroline Jackson-Smith’s
production finds all the laughs yet brings out the rock-serious
underpinnings. “The Colored Museum” is brilliantly
specific to African-American culture, yet its concerns are universal.
How do we come to terms with our “baggage” -- culture,
race, heritage, and history, and all the images we are bombarded
with -– to create authentic identities that acknowledge
them without being chained by them?
BACKSTORY: In 1986, Wolfe’s satire shocked and delighted
with his daring, not just by taking on stereotypes but by the
un-P.C. send-up of black icons as well. It’s particularly
fun to see Kimberly Brown emote as the Ntozake Shange-inspired
“Lady in Plaid” after appearing in Karamu’s critically
acclaimed “For Colored Girls…” last season.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Teens and up. Don’t miss this one.
You’ll laugh your ass off all night, and then think about
it the whole next day.
DETAILS: Karamu Performing Arts Theatre, 2355 E. 89th
St., Cleveland, thru 2/19, www.karamu.com
Originally published on
, January, 2006