In 1984, the formidable observational comedic talents of Whoopi Goldberg exploded on the Broadway scene. Her one-woman self-titled performance, which I was fortunate to have seen, delivered laugh-inducing monologues, many tinged with a sharp pang of recognition. Her characters were young and old, male and female, black and white, well-off and struggling — Goldberg was humanity in a nutshell.
Now, Lincoln Center Theater offers a tribute to that iconic show in The Whoopi Monologues. This time, five actresses each take one of the monologues from Goldberg’s original show. Their performances, under the direction of Whitney White, not only show the observational brilliance of Goldberg as a writer. They also lead one to realize her brilliance as a performer as well.
The cast is made up of major talents from stage, screen, and television. Kerry Washington, best remembered for her lead role on television’s Scandal, plays a vapid surfer girl. Tony and Grammy winner Kecia Lewis tackles the no-nonsense Lurleen. Dominique Fishback breaks your heart as a sunny little black girl, using a white towel to signify the long blonde hair she knows she will have one day. Danielle Pinnock, currently appearing on TV’s Ghosts, is a sassy, bawdy Jamaican lady working for an old white man in the USA. Finally, Tony winner Kara Young (Purpose) is Fontaine, a black male street hustler who has an epiphany in Amsterdam at the Anne Frank House.
The five actresses, both in and out of character, interact at the start and end of the show, as well as between the monologues. They perform on a five door set designed by the design team of Studio Bent, lit by Cha See, with video projections created by Hana S. Kim. Evocative clothing is by one of today’s hottest theatre costumers, Qween Jean (Cats: The Jellicle Ball).
Whether you’re a fan of Whoopi Goldberg or not, she has an undeniable talent for observation and connection. If you saw her 1984 show, as I did, The Whoopi Monologues will bring back fond memories. If you didn’t, this show will be an eye-opener, showcasing her humanity and sharp humor from the very start of her career.
I cannot more strongly encourage you to spend an evening engaging with The Whoopi Monologues!
lct.org/shows/the-whoopi-monologues
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