Controversial Play About ‘Colored Girls’ Opens at BCT

By Thomas G. Robinson

When this play was first performed by Ntozake Shange, the author, it was in a women’s bar in California in 1974.  Since then it has gone on to win awards on Broadway, turned into a feature film by noted director Tyler Perry and now, its highest honor (I’m sure!) presented on stage in Bakersfield at Bakersfield Community Theatre, California’s Oldest Continuous Theatre (Est. 1927 and celebrating its 85th season this year) on Friday, February 10th.

The play is directed by Thomas G. Robinson (yours truly) and produced by Tomeka Powell.  It tells the tale of seven Black women who describe their achievements, tragedies, loves and losses in poetry, song and dance (dubbed ‘choreopoems’ by the author).  Although this is not a musical, it has music within the storytelling that lends itself to choreography and song.

Former Bakersfieldian and dance studio owner, LaQuette Milner, provided the choreography for this production, which had her commuting from Los Angeles (her current home) to Bakersfield once or twice a week to create dance moves and grooves for the actresses, some of whom had never been on a stage before.

Just in time for Black History Month, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When The Rainbow Is Enuf will draw you in with the tales of love, hate, rape, death and abusive relationships – all to powerful words and phrases that engulf you and push you to tears. In a stunning portrayal of women dealing with major life-changing issues, ’For Colored Girls‘ introduces theatre goers to new talents and veterans as well.

Notable performances abound, one should take note of the emotion brought forth by Sheila Robinson-Owens as the Lady in Red, Detrice Palmer as The Lady in Brown and the always amazing performance by Bakersfield staple Althea Williams as The Lady in Green (most recently seen in Doubt: A Parable, directed by Roger Mathey at Bakersfield Community Theatre, where she practically stole the show as Mrs. Miller).  You can see incredible performances by BenEece Davis as The Lady in Yellow, Kiah Brown as The Lady in Purple, Venessa Duncan as The Lady in Blue and a stirring performance by Vina Jefferson as The Lady in Orange.

With preview performances around town (which included CSUB’s Black History Month Kick-Off on February 1st), For Colored Girls has already had very good buzz from those who witnessed the opening scene performance featuring the heated vocal performance of the opening title by Detrice Palmer. With Black History Month in full swing this year, and For Colored Girls being the only show offered by local community theatre in honor of the celebration, make time – take time – to attend this stirring, emotional roller coaster of a show!

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When The Rainbow Is Enuf  opens Friday, Feb. 10th and runs through Saturday, Feb. 25th with two Sunday matinees (12, 19 at 2PM) and one Thursday evening performance (23rd at 8PM) dubbed “Performer’s Night” (for those who perform in other plays at other theatres around town and can’t make the typical Fri thru Sun performances due to their own shows).

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for Senior Citizens, Students and Military persons.  Tickets are available at the box-office at 2400 So. Chester Avenue or Russo’s Books at The Marketplace (all major credit cards accepted).  Please call the theatre at 661.831.8114 for information, directions and other program information.

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Doubt: A Parable – Mathey’s Dark Delight at BCT

MATHEY DIRECTS DOUBT – ‘A MUST SEE!’ At BCT!

By Thomas G. Robinson, randomly writing

Bakersfield Community Theatre’s first main stage production for their 85th Season began last weekend with the play Doubt: A Parable, directed by Roger Mathey. The play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play in 2005. Writer John Patrick Shanley originally called the play Doubt, and it originally opened off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club in November of 2004. It was a one-act play that ran about 90 minutes. When audiences left the theatre with differing opinions of the events Shanley added a second act. When the play was published in 2004, the title was changed to Doubt: A Parable.*

I found the English North American Dictionary’s definitions of the main words used in the title rather interesting in describing the kind of play you’re in for, read on:

Doubt – (transitive verb) [dowt] to think something unlikely, to feel unconvinced or uncertain about something, or think that something is unlikely. To not trust somebody or something. To suspect that somebody is not sincere or trustworthy, or that something is not true, likely, or genuine.

Parable – (noun) [párrəb’l] Moral or religious story. A short simple story intended to illustrate a moral or religious lesson. Story ascribed to Jesus Christ. A parable that appears in the Bible, as told by Jesus Christ.

With definitions so succinct, so definitive of the characters in the play, it’s only right that you feel like you’re in for something much more than your regular drama. This play holds your attention, keeps you wondering who is right, who’s at fault and what if… just what if the accusations are wrong… What if there is doubt?

I was taken aback when I learned that Mathey had agreed to direct this play. Not that he’s not a great director (which he clearly is), it was just strange to me since I know he just finished wrapping up a huge production in Los Angeles. Roger spent a good portion of the year writing, planning, successfully fundraising and networking for a show called You Make Me Physically Ill (a well received production that was given rave reviews by several Los Angeles theatre magazines).

When I asked him why he was so interested in directing this play, having just come off of a long production in Los Angeles, he responded, “Directing Doubt came up way before You Make Me Physically Ill”, adding, “Sheila (McClure, Director of Shows at BCT) asked me awhile ago and I committed. She showed me a list of the shows that were planned for the next season and out of all of them I wanted Doubt. I wanted to keep it simple in scope.”

And so he did. The set is black box, but on a much larger scale. It is dark and demure. With it you get a little hint of Catholicism with the stained glass and pulpit, and Sister Aloysius’ office is exactly how you would imagine it to be. Cold. Uninviting. Unmerciful. Or is it?

Mathey has directed many plays in his vast career under his production company (Seat of Your Pants Productions), and has won some prestigious awards in Los Angeles, so it is no mistake that he knows how to put a cast together. He has managed to round up some of Bakersfield’s biggest talents for this production – Brian Sivesind, Barbara Gagnon, Ellie Sivesind and Althea Williams; all cast to perfection.

The two most notable are veterans of the local theatrical scene. Brian is the Executive Director at The Empty Space Theatre (a venue he founded in 2003 and just recently returned to the helm), and Barbara has been seen in various productions around town entertaining us for several years, never failing to shine. For this show, Barbara was able to win the role over many talented actresses who auditioned. When watching her in this production, it’s easy to see why.

Sivesind was pre-cast for this show by Mathey months before he set up auditions. This practice is usually frowned upon by actors who feel that it’s not a fair shake, to be left out of the opportunity to be a part of an intensely popular production. It’s an option that, if taken, had better be a call that is a connection from actor to character that an audience will consider a sure thing! It’s a risk not too many directors will take. However, when you watch Doubt, you can see that Sivesind’s portrayal of Father Flynn as a shaken, frustrated and overwhelmed priest on the wrong end of the constant accusations beset upon him by Sister Aloysius, why Mathey wanted him in this role.

“I precast Brian for multiple reasons”, Roger explained, “First, he is a tremendous actor, and as the Executive Director for The Empty Space Theatre, it’s good for BCT in relations. As for the women, there was real talent that read for the role of Sister Aloysius”

Brian has had some great roles over the years in Bakersfield, but who can forget his stirring performance in I Am My Own Wife, a one-man show that he did a few years ago at the Spotlight Theatre that simply blew me, and everyone around me, away. I can remember watching him become this person who, if you know Brian, is completely outside of him; he was engulfed in the character.

The night I saw the play, at the end, the standing ovation and thunderous applause he received was overwhelmingly delivered from a very enthusiastic and appreciative audience, and was so richly deserved. Where does one go from a performance like that?

I asked him why Father Flynn… Why now? “This role means a lot to me. It’s about people’s conclusions to situations when they don’t even have all the information”, Brian continues, “It’s a never-ending cycle, even if it’s not true”.

I noticed that he really looked good on stage, comfortable. He says, “It’s been over a year since I’ve been on stage, it’s time. The last time I performed at BCT was in 2003 in The Grapes of Wrath”.

Roger has no regrets on his casting choices, “I cast Barbara and Ellie because I’ve never worked with them before. I’ve been very lucky! All four actors are very talented. There is no weak link.”

One would doubt that Mathey will attempt to mirror anything done in the film version either. “I never saw it”, he says, “I refused to watch it. I wanted to wait until this play was done with before I see it.

It is my opinion, given the choices of theatrical productions in town, if you decide you want to view a show where it seems like all the planets have lined up to create the ‘just right’ mix of actors in a ‘just right’ script from a ‘just right’ director, there clearly is no doubt that this play would be the ‘just right’ thing to do.

Doubt runs at the Bakersfield Community Theatre for two more weeks. Tonight and Saturday at 8:00 PM (doors open at 7:30 PM) and Sunday at 2:00 PM, (doors open at 1:30 PM). Tickets are $15 for Adults and $12.00 for Senior Citizens, Students (with valid school ID) and Military (with an Armed Forces ID). Call 831.8114 for more information or to make reservations.

*** If you’ve read this far, you’re in luck! This weekend only, BCT is presenting BLACK FRIDAY, BLACK SATURDAY AND BLACK SUNDAY! Mention that you heard about their Black (fill in the day) Deal, and you’ll get a Buy One, Get One FREE deal for Adult tickets! That’s two tickets (a $30 value) for $15.00! Students, don’t feel left out. The same mention gets you in for HALF PRICE! That’s right. Mention the Black (Day) at the box-office and your $12.00 ticket becomes $6.00!

Go see Doubt: A Parable – This year’s MUST SEE production!

*Information provided by Wikipedia – Doubt: A Parable

Doubt: A Parable, Poster designed by Mathey, McClure and Rodan

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Reservations Strongly Suggested as Super Villain!! Opens Tonight at BCT!

By: Thomas G. Robinson

The time is now.  The place, a busy city filled with skyscrapers, a donut shop and giant metal spiders.  The people who slowly appear as the lights get brighter and the audience can now see 

Michael Solko, James Kopp and Ronnie Warren in full costume!

in full view are The Remote (who uses remote control devices to bring forth some sort of revenge or attack, with a “sometimes it works” ratio), Professor Gimp (Remote’s trusty side-kick, who happens to be half robot and not really “gimpy” at all) and Teri the Tarot Card Terrorist (the cold-hearted killer who has a soft touch for The Remote).

A victim appears to be tied to a contraption that will result in painfully ending his life.  Struggle as he will, there appears to be no hope for the hapless sidekick.  What to do, what to do… normally the audience members would be fidgeting in their seats for some kind of hint, thinking there’s no way the wimpy character (played by Matt Christensen) is going to survive this tortuous attack. But just as we are about to believe that we are going to witness the demise of Sidekick,… who should appear in a triumphant feat of bravery?  Yes, in swoops Excelsior (the Super Hero in this story, and the man who stands firm on all his beliefs, which of course are directly the opposite of The Remote!).  And this is just the beginning.

We were first introduced to The Remote, a self proclaimed “Super Villain”, three years ago when actor, writer and director James Kopp brought his original three-act play to The Empty Space Theatre and hit community theatre gold!  Sold Out nights, laughter galore, and explosions were the norm during the show’s initial two week run.  People not only enjoyed the show in its premiere run, they kept coming back, and bringing friends!  It was almost as if Bakersfield was trying to tell James something – and that something was, “I think you’ve found your audience!”

The Remote considers himself a villain so devious that he has no problem blowing up a building filled with clowns.  He brags about drinking Unicorn blood, which apparently has the same effect a bottle of vodka would bring.  He demands attention from his girlfriends, and then berates them continuously when they are there for him.  It goes on and on, the reasons to dislike this bad guy… but, try as you might, you can’t help but root for him when he attempts to wipe the city out by detonating a hydrogen bomb he placed in the building some five years ago!   Will he be able to succeed with his dasterdly plan?

This show has it all – drama, action, comedy, explosions, swearing and laughter in this play.   With almost the same cast as when it was debuted, the show is a must-see for those who  love dark humor and snow cones. The show stars Matt Christensen,  James Kopp, Bryan Maddern, Jennie Maddern, Guinevere PHD, Michael Solko,  Dallas Plater, Thomas G. Robinson and Ronnie Warren as Professor Gimp.

Super Villain!!: The 2^nd Printing opens tomorrow at Bakersfield Community Theatre.  Tickets on sale at BCT Box Office for $10.  The show runs for four performances only!  July 22, 23, 29 and 30.  Doors open at 7:30 and Show starts at 8:00.  BCT is located at 2400 So. Chester Avenue.  Reservations are Strongly Suggested and can be made by calling 661.831.8114.

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Frankly Speaking, Anne’s Back!

Tags: acting, anne frank, bakersfield, bob kempf, diary, drama, history, The Empty Space, theatre
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