The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf – Court Theatre

Never has there been a more truthful statement conceived on a stage than the sensory treat called “for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf.” Although the play has been around since the mid-seventies, the situations endured by the anonymous ladies have remained largely unchanged. This character-driven, story telling, rhythmic dance of life is set on a deliberately dark, dank, minimalist stage and is beautifully tied together by the oh-so-right guitar and percussion of lyric. There are many moments during the performance where the audience grew so quiet that it seemed like there were only eight women in the building… the girls on stage.

It seems to us that some of the stories might have been experienced by some of the ladies on stage. Although the acting was awesome, we felt a sense of realism beyond good theater pulsing into the audience.  This was indicated by the volleys of ooohs and ahhhs and uh-huhs of the crowd. There is no greater tribute to a cast than to evoke such a reaction. So if you happen to be looking for a hard, gritty look at eight different viewpoints of pivotal moments in the lives of several women of color, come check out for colored girls…you will see them converge both physically and metaphorically from their emotional perches on the edge of several ugly big cities to bring you their sad, earthy and mundane stories. The fact that they are still around to tell their stories is a sign of hopefulness for all to take home. We highly recommend this production.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Shelly Berry and Scott Kirshenbaum

Presented March 14-April 14 by Court Theatre at 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 773-753-4472 or by visiting www.courttheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found at www.theatreinchicago.com.