‘For Colored Girls’: A lyrical, haunting reboot

‘FOR COLORED GIRLS’: (left to right) Stacey Sargeant, Amara Granderson, Okwui Okpokwasili, Tendayi Kuumba, Kenita R. Miller, D. Woods & Alexandria Wailes. Photo: Marc J. Franklin.

FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE/WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF
Written By Ntozake Shange
Directed & choreographed by Camille A. Brown
Through June 5, 2022
Booth Theatre
222 West 45th Street
(212-239-6200), www.forcoloredgirlsbway.com

By David NouNou

The late Ntozake Shange and her play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf were both ground-breaking. Ms. Shange was only the second African-American woman to have a play produced on Broadway by 1976. The first was Lorraine Hansberry and her immortal 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun.  Ms. Shange coined the term “Choreopoem” for her play, meaning poetic monologues accompanied by dance movement and music.  It tells the stories of seven African-American women who have suffered in a sexist society.

The seven women in the play have no names except for the beautiful colors of the rainbow. They are simply known as (placed in alphabetical order): Lady in Blue (Stacey Sargeant), Lady in Brown (Tendayi Kuumba), Lady in Green (Alexis Sims), Lady in Orange (McKenzie Frye), Lady in Purple (Treshelle Edmond), Lady in Red (Kenita R. Miller) and Lady in Yellow (D. Woods), and beautiful they are.

Their stories are many: They are singular but yet they blend into each other, lyrical and yet poetic. Some have been battered but they are survivors; they have been abused by their men but have come out the other end of the rainbow stronger. They celebrate their color and their womanhood through dance, music and the joy of their lives.

The women are a cohesive unit. They are the perfect ensemble that is so intertwined, they pick up where the other leaves off. They are in sync together; it is impossible to single out one from the other; they are a beautiful rainbow team, all of whom I mentioned by name earlier. These magical performances are beautifully staged by Camille A. Brown, an actress, dancer and choreographer. Ms. Brown has used her talent and expertise injecting the show with rhythm, passion and joy. The stage is in constant motion. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf is an ode to the women in the play and the women they represent.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published April 27, 2022
Reviewed at April 26, 2022 press performance.

‘FOR COLORED GIRLS’: (left to right) D. Woods, Kenita R. Miller, Alexandria Wailes, Tendayi Kuumba, Okwui Okpokwasili, Amara Granderson & Stacey Sargeant. Photo: Marc J. Franklin.