Tonight was one for the books. Ghostlight Stage Company, one of the newer companies in the Greater Cincinnati theater scene, presented two very new, very powerful new works in Playhouse in the Park’s Studio. This was more a staged reading than a fully realized production, but I can say I was moved and intrigued. I laughed, I gasped. I saw actors and directors I have known either personally or through their work in new lights.
America’s Favorite Feminist shows a dark near future where new oppressive laws outlaw and eliminate Trans rights, Freedom of Speech, and reduce the right to vote to a reality tv program where the audience votes via a pay for play app disenfranchising anyone too poor to pay for the privilege. The Birth of Venus in Indigo is loosely based on the Legend of Robert Johnson making a deal with the Devil at the crossroads, and it is esoteric, talks about music and magic and what it means to find your true self. Both pieces are in their infancy, but show great promise
Ghostlight Stage presents The Birth of Venus in Indigo
This piece is esoteric. Taken from the story of Blues Legend Robert Johnson. There are many strong performances. TaShauna Ajoi Jenkins is Clara Pearl, The Queen of Delta Blues and Black Magic. Along her journey she gets drunk on her Aunt Caroline Dye’s (Ashley Olivia Matt) apparently mystic booze. This takes her on a journey of self discovery where she meets her guardian angel and her Spirit relative, both brought to life by Sunny Dunigan, who offers her talent at a price and offers a funny and very pointed critique of Tyler Perry. Finally she meets Dr. Ishmael, played by Jeffery Jackson, who makes sure she’s ready to return to life.
The entire cast takes us on a journey of magic and self discovery and shows a vulnerable side in each scene The Angel’s questions, Aunt Dye’s fear that she just killed her niece, Clara’s own journey through the strange and occult world she finds herself in provides plenty of opportunities to show her range and growth. Her guardian angel tells her that her name is the Queen of Delta Blues and Black Magic and by the end we see her growing into the name.
Direction and Script
Direction by local Cincinnati theater artist Beasley, which opens a new frontier in their repertoire as an artist. The script by Playwright Myles E. Johnson is a joy to watch. I look forward to the next steps this piece takes and look forward to seeing what its talented team of actors and production come up with next.
Ghostlight Stage presents America’s Favorite Feminist
In the near future, conservative values caused a crack down on Civil Rights and turned America’s elections–at least for women–into a reality TV show called America’s Favorite Feminist. We join this competition as the final two competitors Minnie (Diana Hutchinson) and Elizabeth (Annika Cowles), duke it out for the votes of the audience under the watchful eye of Crow (Char Adams). Both contestants engage in humiliating and frankly sexist and racist challenges, culminating in Elizabeth going on a date with a Billionaire media mogul. Minnie refuses, protests and is arrested, thus giving the contest to Elizabeth. Interestingly, both women are working together to try and find out what happened to their trans friends. They are trying to make a change in a political system that is dominated by extreme right wing ideology.
Director Maya Norman and Playwright Keenya J Jackson are not subtle about what caused the Trumpification of this version of the U.S. Every single line is about as subtle as a brick in the face. But for a show about a dark future, Feminist does a good job of sending a strong message while being entertaining.
Char Adams as Crow steals every scene they are in. Crow is flamboyant, charismatic, and absolutely vile. Crow is a villain you love to hate and Adams pulls this off beautifully. Cowles’ as Elizabeth brings a level of humanity to what could have otherwise been a bit of a ditzy role; the character has hidden depths. Finally Diana Hutchinson as Minnie is smart, confident and shows a wide range from house candidate to outrage, to a depressed prisoner.
Direction and Script
Director Maya Norman hits it out of the park with this one. Taking on a challenging topic and script especially in the current political climate takes guts. Playwright Keenya J Jackson swings for the fences and hits it out of the park. I look forward to them taking this script further.
The Bottom Line
The Ghostlight Stage Company has been doing this tradition for three years now. I cannot wait to see what this company does moving forward.
It is also worth noting the stage management, costume, set, and sound designers (Rose Gibson, Chad Brinkman, Conard LaPrete, and Aiden Dalton) all of whom do a wonderful job of bringing these scripts to life.
Support local theatre! Catch a show by the Ghostlight Stage Company–keep track up their upcoming events HERE.
