A Near Miss

By the Way, Meet Vera Stark

Prolific playwright Lynn Nottage is known for her challenging and often forgotten stories, focusing her works on members of  the African-American working class community. She’s also known as the first and only woman to have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice. RUINED and SWEAT have earned her that illustrious accolade, followed by such other excellent dramas as INTIMATE APPAREL, MLIMA’S TALE, CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY and the book for MJ THE MUSICAL. BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, one of Lynn Nottage’s lesser known plays, is now in an interesting new production by Artistic Home. The production is a rare near miss. And the play itself just doesn’t seem to be in the same league as Ms. Nottage’s other plays.

Partially based upon the life and career of American singer, dancer and television & film actress, Theresa Harris, this play focuses on an African-American domestic maid, who achieved artistic success in the 1930’s. Through determination and talent, the headstrong Ms. Stark works her way up to become one of the earliest Black movie stars in Hollywood. The style of Ms. Norridge’s play clearly draws upon the screwball comedies of the early Golden Era of Motion Pictures. Throughout the play we observe the tangled relationship between Vera and her boss, Gloria Mitchell. Known as “America’s Sweetie Pie,” the fictional White film star has a long, controversial friendship With Ms. Stark. 

The play concludes with a long-winded symposium, moderated by a character named Herb Forrester. He hosts two guest speakers, experts who are encouraged to comment on Vera Stark’s life and career. The threesome are motivated by watching the video of a supposed “lost episode” from a 1973 talk show, in which both Ms. Stark and Ms. Mitchell last appeared together. As bizarre and choppy as Act I seems, Act II simply becomes tiresome and redundant, until it finally runs out of steam by the end.

Directed by Risha Tenae, this production is uneven and, frankly, way over the top. I wanted to like this play and this cast, but just couldn’t enjoy what I was seeing and hearing. I’ve seen and enjoyed many of these actors do much finer work in prior productions. But not even the enthusiasm of young Ashayla Calvin in the titular role could make this lengthy production a pleasure. Only Justice Ford, who plays both Lotte and Carmen, showed any levels of real character. All the fictional people became simply stereotypes and the scenes felt like old tropes that were the sources of formula, laugh-track sitcoms. There doesn’t appear to be much honesty or respect for the characters or the film genre, in general.

 I understand and appreciate the hardships endured by African-American artists during the Depression Era. I could certainly see how difficult it was for a minority actor to get ahead. But I already was aware of this dilemma. There was nothing new in this play. It’s a near miss, for me. The African-American performer would practically have to sell his or her soul in order to achieve status in Show Business. I’m sorry to say that, except for a few instances, this production of one of Lynn Nottage’s lesser-known plays just didn’t entertain or further enlighten this audience member.  

Somewhat Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 12-November 17 by Artistic Home at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 773-697-3830 or by going to www.theartistichome.org.

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