I’d always heard wonderful things about Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls …” but I’d never had the opportunity to see it. If I thought about it at all, it was to group it with other ‘70s plays considered cutting edge (at the time), like “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe” or “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds”. I’m so glad I finally got to see it.
The play is organized into a series of stories Shange called choreopoems told by eight women who are only identified by the colors they wear. Lyric (Melody Angel) opens the performance with voice and drum as the other women sing, dance and narrate stories ranging from childhood play to more adult issues such as domestic abuse, rape and abortion.
The cast includes Lady in Yellow (Melanie Brezill), Lady in Purple (Leah Casey), Lady in Blue (Melissa Duprey), Lady in Green (Angelica Katie), Lady in Brown (Patrese D. McClain), Lady in Orange (Alexis J. Roston) and Lady in Red (Anji White).
“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf” runs through April 14th at the Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Parking is free in the garage next door to the Court – you have to take a ticket to enter but you won’t need it to exit, the gate stays up for 30 minutes after the performance.
Running time is 90 minutes, no intermission. Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays at 8:00 pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. Tickets range from $50-$74. FYI (773) 753-4472 or www.CourtTheatre.org.