“The Whoopi Monologues” is nothing less than brilliant, funny, and moving theater — portraying Black women’s power to the one-thousandth strength.
Audiences are presented with incredible stories from five Black women at different phrases of life — characters brilliantly created by Whoopi Goldberg in 1984 for her one-woman Broadway show of the same name. Five formidable actresses take on each character with grace, humor, depth, emotion, and dedication. How can you lose with a dream cast that includes Kerry Washington, Kara Young, Kecia Lewis, Danielle Pinnock, and Dominique Fishback?
On top of that, add in the element of direction by the spectacularly talented and intensely creative Whitney White and you have theater gold! Oh, and did I mention the costumes are by Tony Award-winning designer Qween Jean and hair and wig design are by Special Tony Award-winner Nikiya Mathis? It is a Black women’s lovefest and you feel it as you sit in the audience.
Each of the five characters tells an engaging story about a Black female, ranging in age from a teenager to a woman going through menopause. Kara Young opens the hour-and-40-minute show, no intermission, with the feisty, funny, criminal character of Fontaine. Young infuses this character with such a marvelous, engaging spirit and her humor is delightful.
Kerry Washington plays Surfer Girl and you can’t get more Valley Girl than she does, although she rejects that title. Her story starts off very funny, but turns into something unexpected and gripping.
Danielle Pinnock is off-the-chain funny as Jamaican Lady. She takes that character to amazing heights and will have you crying laughing. It is beautiful to see a plus-sized actress bring her character to life with such sensuality.
Kecia Lewis is poignant as Lurleen, an older Black woman going through menopause and experiencing it in a very devastating way. Lewis definitely had audience members in tears as she poignantly and empathetically portrayed this character.
Kai Heath played Blonde Girl at the performance I attended (a role normally played by Dominique Fishback). Heath, who is making her Lincoln Center Theater debut, was charming and adorable as a little Black girl who is not convinced of her own beauty, due to society’s perception that white features are beautiful while Black features are something to be ashamed of.
What’s so wonderful about this production is that, although written and performed in 1984, the ideas behind the characters are still relevant today. As a Black woman, I felt that we were being seen and heard in ways not often depicted onstage. It was refreshing, fun, and funny.
This production is also a fantastic experience because it often relies on audience participation, and believe me, the audience I was with definitely enjoyed participating wholeheartedly (and I am not talking about just Black women).
The jokes were fast and just kept coming, but there were serious, truthful moments as well that touched the heart and made you reflect about women you might know who are going through some things.
What I enjoyed a great deal about this production was the feeling of support among the five characters. As each character finished their monologue, all the characters came on the stage and left during the transition as if to say, “We see you and we’re here to support you.”
The play is definitely something everyone should experience. It is a combination of a hilarious, interactive, at times disturbing, but by the end uplifting time at the theater.
“The Whoopi Monologues” has scenic design by Studio Bent, lighting design by Chase, original music and sound design by Fan Zhang, and video design by Hana S. Kim.
For tickets, visit lct.org.
