Coffee Will Make You… Laugh

Originally posted 4.18.08

Many years ago I had the pleasure of reading the truly ‘LOL’ coming of age novel “Coffee Will Make You Black” by April Sinclair. The story is about a young girl named Jean “Stevie” Steveson growing up in the 60s in a time of political and social change, all while navigating her way through the personal issues any young girl faces - boys, best friends, menstruations, and sexual identity. So when I got wind that the book had been adapted into a stage play by Michael A. Shepperd I was chomping at the bit (does anyone really do that? Ok, let’s just say I was super excited) to see the production.

Last night I arrived at the Celebration Theatre in Hollywood for the second night of previews for “Coffee Will Make You Black”. In the intimate and welcoming theater, a colorful scene was set, with what one might consider a montage of period pictures perpendicular to bright hues of paper plastered on the walls.

I’d be remiss to sit here and give blow by blow details of what happened because the point is you should go. However, let me at least tell you why I so strongly suggest seeing this play. It’s starts off with 11-year-old “Stevie” asking her mother if she is a virgin. “Mama, are you a virgin?” “Stevie” played by such an amazing and committed actor Diona Reasonover, is trying to figure out the facts of life, but her friends keep giving her misinformation and her mother is reluctant to explain things too early. For the rest of the first hour, “Stevie,” her antagonistic friends, the mischievous “Gail” as played by Daniele Watts, the playfully sinister “Niecy” as played by Aasha Davis and the extraordinary, domineering and strong for good or for bad “Carla” as played by Charlene Modeste go through the rigamarole of being pre-teens in a Civil Rights era Chicago. The most compelling point in addition to the perfect pacing and timing of comedic hits of the first hour - you never know these are adult women playing child characters.

The second hour is not as comical as the first as “Stevie” enters high school and has to deal with heavier subjects like sex, sexual identity, and racial politics. Still and all “Stevie,” who also cleverly narrates the entire play by panning to front and center of the audience, effectively provides a most commendable thread throughout the play giving the audience a delightful, lively and moving portrait one girl’s struggles, perseverances, strides, and triumphs.

Please take the time to support independent theatre and enjoy yourself in the process.

Opening Night: April 18, 2008
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays @ 8:00pm
Sundays @ 3:00pm
7051 Santa Monica BLVD
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Tickets: A very mere $25.00

A Taste of NY at a Los Angeles Theatre Benefit…

Originally posted 3.4.08

Come out for the reading of the Pulitzer Prize nominated play, “Three Days Of Rain” by Richard Greenberg as directed by Darin Anthony. “Three Days of Rain” is the story of two siblings and their childhood friend who convene in a lower Manhattan loft in 1955 to search for clues about their deceased fathers respective personal histories and the women in their lives. In 2006, Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd, and Bradley Cooper starred in the Broadway run.

This time around, however, the special benefit reading is put on by Los Angeles’ Amalgam Theatre Company and stars Justin Kirk (”Weeds”, Angels In America), Kathleen Parker (”Veronica Mars”, Supermarket), and Josh Stamberg (”Studio 60″, Fracture). Proceeds will benefit the upcoming production of the play which is slated for a summer/fall release.

The event takes place:

Tuesday, March 18th at 8:00p.m.
The Lillian Theatre
1078 Lillian Way
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Admission: $50
To purchase tickets, please visit:
www.Plays411.com/threedays
or call (323) 960-4412

Peppur Chambers & Her Bad, Bad, Brown Betties…

Sexy, sultry, sassy, fearless. If asked to describe the show that is Brown Betties: A Harlem’s Night Cabaret in four adjectives, you just got them. An independent contemporary cabaret performance, Harlem’s Night… debuted in Los Angeles in the summer of August 2005. Four women: Peppur Chambers, Keena Ferguson, Christy Gamble, and Danielle Lewis, known as the Brown Betties, hit the stage for a most engaging and entertaining theatrical review every few months. Interchanging music, dance and acting, A Harlem’s Night… is the story of four women of four drastically different personalities, in love with one man – Joe. Throughout the course of the show, these women, in uncanny detail, reveal their addiction to Joe through their various vices. Harlem, the lead character is Need, while the other women embody Want, Hate, and Love. We recently caught up with the oh-so-sexy and stunning Peppur Chambers, the gunning force behind all that is Brown Betties…

MP: What is Brown Betties and how did you come up with the concept of Harlem’s Night Cabaret?

PC: I came up with the concept “Harlem’s Night Cabaret” from a variety of influences. When I lived in Chicago, I was assisting in urban marketing with my friend Maze Jackson who had a campaign account with Sprite. Since I’ve always loved the ‘40s, I was like, “Dude, instead of throwing regular parties to promote the brand, we need to do a 1940s night… juke joint, Ella Fitzgerald, the whole nine…!” He was like, “Uhhh, No. People won’t get it.” I never forgot that idea and saved my proposal. So when I moved to Los Angeles, I took my fabulous theme of a 1940’s Harlem Night, named my lead character “Harlem” and made it her night of trying to desperately get an un-gettable guy named “Joe.” I brought in my old corny songs and the sultry “Hey Joe” and there was “Harlem’s Night: A Cabaret Story”!!

MP: There is definitely a revival of the pin-up girl in your production. Where did that come from?

PC: Quite frankly, I loved pin-up girls from the 40s & 50s and was pissed there weren’t any Black pin- ups. I always wanted to be one so now I am and so are the three other Brown Betties.

MP: And cabaret… have you always been a fan?

PC: Absolutely. But, traditional cabaret, where there’s one woman, her feather boa and her piano telling a story with her songs. I was greatly influenced by Julie Wilson.

MP: What was your scariest moment on stage?

PC: Uhhh. It’s always scary! Ha. My stiletto strap broke in one show and that was scary trying to not gimp around. I’ve had a booby-trap wardrobe malfunction, but that was funny (prompted us to start wearing pasties). We’ve had other wardrobe malfunctions… The real scary part is going to the ATM to get cash to pay for rehearsals and my account is overdrawn!

MP: It’s not easy getting in front of an audience of strangers in your skivvies… Do you have a ritual to prepare yourself or have you come to a place where that doesn’t even matter?

PC: We try to get bikini waxes. We also do a group prayer before each show.

MP: In addition to the production, you put together a calendar. Please tell us all about it!

PC: Jim Silke, the amazing illustrator who drew Bettie Paige, came to one of our early shows. I told him about my longing desire for an all black pin-up calendar and he offered to draw us. It took a year as he was busy working on graphic novels. Well, in the meantime, the girls felt a photo-calendar was what they really wanted. I thought it would be cool to take the themes from our numbers, like “Sweetie Pie” and “Lady’s Man” and find poses that told that story as well as were representative of classic pin-up poses.

MP: Where can you purchase the calendar?

PC: Online at Brown Betties.

*You can also find dates for the next performance at that website.