| We saw CA Johnson's superb and poignant new play All The Natalie Portmans at MCC last Friday evening and were quite simply blown away. Kara Young, who we saw several months ago in Halfway Bitches Go Straight To Heaven at the Atlantic, gives a stunning performance as Keyonna, a 16 year old lesbian in a brutally impoverished black family who dreams of writing stories for Hollywood. Keyonna is as memorable a character as Scout Finch, only her single parent family is headed by a broken, alcoholic mother (Montego Glover). Scout has her father for inspiration and support, Keyonna has her teen idol imaginary Natalie Portman (Elise Kibler) for encouragement, and the love of her older brother Samuel (Joshua Boone) who tries to keep the family afloat. This is a coming of age story, a coming out story, a story of survival and love. The night we attended happened to be "Queer Night" and the enthusiastic audience was overwhelming young and diverse by race and sex/gender orientation. We (two older white hetero couples) stayed for the audience discussion and reception afterwards. The powerful impact of the play was so apparent as we listened to the many voices giving feedback. Bravo to this creative team and cast! We are sometimes disappointed by the productions we see as Off Broadway subscribers, but THIS gem is why we go to the theater and keep returning. |
