By Harry Forbes
More than 40 years after Whoopi Goldberg first unveiled her remarkable gallery of characters, The Whoopi Monologues proves that both the writing and its compassionate insights remain as fresh, funny, and affecting as ever.
This time, however, there's no Whoopi. Instead, a cast of five talented actresses each performs one of the five character monologues that Goldberg originally played herself. The fifth monologue, drawn from the 2004 Broadway revival, replaces an earlier piece about a disabled caregiver in an assisted living facility who finds love.
While we miss the pleasure of watching Goldberg's virtuosic transformations from one character to the next, we gain the comparable satisfaction of seeing five vibrantly gifted actresses bring their own distinctive interpretations to these women. The production also allows us to appreciate anew the sturdy literary craftsmanship of Goldberg's writing.
In order of appearance, Kara Young is Fontaine, a junkie thief who, improbably, also holds a Ph.D. A trip to Amsterdam culminates in a profound epiphany at the Anne Frank House. Dominique Fishback is delightful as a young Black girl who longs to resemble the blonde, blue-eyed people she sees on television. Kerry Washington—who also serves as one of the production's producers—plays an archetypal Valley Girl whose cheerful vapidity ultimately leads her poignantly astray. Danielle Pinnock is a hoot as a Jamaican woman who catches the eye of a randy old man she nicknames the "Old Raisin" because of his wrinkles, then accompanies him back to the United States to become his housekeeper—and more. Finally, Kecia Lewis portrays a woman who endures a lifetime of uncomfortable feminine hygiene products before eventually confronting menopause.
Each of these characters is splendidly brought to life. Based on the 1985 HBO recording of Goldberg's original performance, this production appears to remain textually faithful to every word of the script, including the seemingly spontaneous moments of audience interaction.
Studio Bent's scenic design—essentially five dressing rooms from which the actresses make their entrances and exits throughout the evening, while also participating in the brief interstitial moments between monologues—keeps the stage visually engaging, aided by Cha See's evocative lighting. Costume designer Qween Jean (of Cats: The Jellicle Ball) has created outfits that perfectly capture the essence of each character.
Whitney White's direction is consistently pitch-perfect, fashioning a fresh yet deeply reverential approach to material that, as this production demonstrates, has lost none of its power.
(Lincoln Center Theater at the Mitzi E. Newhouse, 150 West 65th Street; through August 30)
Photo by Angela Marie Orellana: Kecia Lewis (foreground) and cast.
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