Tag Archives: Carolyn Johnson
M Ensemble’s 1972 River Niger Captures Conflict in Black Lives
M Ensemble Company revives the 1972 award-winning The River Niger capturing a crossroads in Black life in America with a depiction of passionate, intelligent people debating diametrically opposed philosophies of how Black citizens should fight for justice in a racist world.
Powerful Performances, Direction Make New City’s ‘Raisin In The Sun’ A Must See
Attention to detail in each element of New City Players’ Raisin in the Sun makes it truly spectacular on every level, and that especially goes for the directing and the acting.
Sassy Mamas At M Ensemble Seductive, Lightweight Fun
Meet the Ladies of Sassy Mamas, some of Washington, D.C.’s finest women who are going through a mid-life crisis of sorts. They’ve turned the tables on older men, a given that all is right with the world if they have a young woman on their arms. The three friends are at different stages of their lives, yes, but they couldn’t be more than ready to meet in the middle. It’s time for them to venture out and get some eye candy of their own.
M Ensemble’s Knock Me A Kiss Is Uneven But Has Electric Acting
Some vibrant performances – one of them pure electricity – rescue M Ensemble’s uneven production of Charles Smith’s intriguing but flawed script about boldface names from the Harlem Renaissance, Knock Me A Kiss.
Nicky Silver’s The Lyons Scores As Jet Black Satire Of Dysfunctional Family
Nicky Silver’s wickedly hilarious satire The Lyons about self-centered souls in the most dysfunctional family ever seen, on display at The Women’s Theatre Project, hides a deeper portrait of wounded people still seeking the affirmation that they never got from the people who society says should have been their primary nurturers.
August Wilson’s Fences Is Moving But Not Volcanic Edition
The power of storytelling – swapping tales on the porch or watching a familial drama unfold on stage – is the keystone of AAPACT’s production of August Wilson’s Fences. The earnest edition noticeably lacks the Shakespearean power of other productions, but the accretion of calamities grows through its second act until the audience is moved by the tragedy.
AAPACT’s Amen Corner Is Flawed But Passionate Look at Faith And Organized Religion
AAPACT’S ambitious The Amen Corner is earnest and heartfelt although most of the time, the characters and their tragic spiral simply don’t feel genuine or organic. But every 20 minutes or so in this 2 ½-hour evening, the actors dig into their marrow and slingshot the play from pedestrian performances into an affecting truth that clutches the audience’s heart.
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