THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ntozake Shange’s seminal FOR COLORED GIRLS is joyously, stirringly revived at the Public

The company of Ntozake Shange’s "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf" at the Public Theater. Photo by Joan Marcus.

The company of Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf” at the Public Theater. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Also last night, the revival of Ntozake Shange’s seminal For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf opened at the Public Theater, the venue where it originally premiered back in 1976. Described by Ms. Shange herself as a “choreopoem”, the singular piece is basically a series of staged/choreogrpahed poems that collectively encapsulate the experience of being an woman of color in America. Unfortunately, the world hasn’t evolved much since the landmark show was first mounted. As such, For Colored Girls remains strikingly relevant.

What’ll strike you immediately is the confidence and marvelous vitality of Ms. Shange’s language. This is poetry that cries out to be theatricalized and moved to. Providing the sizzling new choreography for the revival is Camille A. Brown (who recently choreographed Broadway’s Choir Boy, as well as this season’s major new production of Porgy and Bess for the Metropolitan Opera), and she may very well be the endeavor’s secret weapon. When the show’s women move – either soulfully alone or thrillingly as an ensemble, but always sensual and powerful – the earth shakes and the words pierce that much more deeply.

Leah C. Gardiner, whose inspired, highly theatrical work I’ve greatly admired in the past, directs the piece with impressive fluidity and an infectious generosity of spirit that’s hard to resist. Truth be told, it’s hard to determine where Ms. Brown’s contributions end and were Ms. Gardiner’s begin. The diverse and supremely talented company of seven women is just gorgeous from top to bottom, each equally brilliant but compellingly idiosyncratic. Each is dressed in one of the colors of the rainbow, which is appropriate – through the cathartic power of empathy, For Colored Girls makes you stirringly feel the gamut of emotions, from deep sorrow, to intense pain, to hopeful dreams, to sultry lust, to pure love, to unbridled joy, and beyond.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

 

FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE/WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF
Off-Broadway, Play
The Public Theater
1 hour, 30 minutes (without an intermission)
Through December 1

Categories: Dance, Off-Broadway, Theater

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