Chiquita Brooks, Courtney Dowe and Li'l T
in Black Girl Ugly 2010 at WOW Café Theatre
If I could, I'd render the title Black Girl Ugly 2010 with a big old malcolm-X over the last word, the way director-playwright Ashley Brockington has it. But I can't. You'll just have to imagine that all-important X. Or, better yet, go to WOW Café Theatre, get yourself a program and see it for yourself. Yeah, that sounds good.
Written by performers Chiquita Brooks (Red Alice), Courtney Dowe (Green Alice) and Li'l T (Black Alice) with Brockington, the hour-long BGU is sort of Ntozake Shange crossed with Nina Simone, with maybe a pinch of Audre Lorde. In other words, Brooks, Dowe and Li'l T help us remember that, when it comes to predators out there in the world, "kickass" can be a corrective action, not just a term techies use to tout the latest hot gadgets. They aim to investigate and demolish racist/sexist stereotypes, and their aim is pretty damn good.
There's strong, affecting talent on display, good physical and vocal command, and a book that combines social critique, rambunctious humor and affirmative sexiness in a rare, effective balance. To the extent that audience members can identify and empathize with the experiences of the three Alices--each Alice bearing one of the liberation colors--they will come away feeling clearheaded and energized for whatever the next day brings.
Black Girl Ugly 2010 runs Thursdays-Saturdays through June 26. For more information, schedule details and ticketing, click here. Call 212-777-4280 for reservations.
WOW Café Theatre
59 East 4th Street (between Bowery and Second Avenue), 4th Floor, buzzer 6, Manhattan
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