Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival

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Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival

By Michael Montroy

Fylicia Renee King

Over the years, the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival has acquired an international reputation for presenting over three hundred of some of the best and most fascinating work by women who act, write, produce, direct, dance, choreograph, and perform musically. In addition to actors, there are erformance artists, dancer, comedians, storytellers and singers. The women are a diverse group, representing a wide range of racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. They are superlative artists from Los Angeles and around the world.

The thirteenth annual installment of the event, 'Festival 2006: Solo, But Not Alone' took place at Highways, the interdisciplinary arts center in Santa Monica between March 23 and March 26. Each portion of the event offered different performances with a different program theme. On Saturday evening, 'RAW' was the theme and the three solo shows included 'The Italian In Me,' with Dina Morrone. This was a wacky journey of an Italian-American (Canadian) actress who tries to be taken seriously as a performer in Italy. 'From The Chronicles of Odisia Sanchez,' with Monica Sanchez. This presentation was an autobiographical odyssey that was a personal mythology, or a travelogue of the heart. The final presentation was 'Mama Was a Bad Muther' Shut Yo Mouth,' with Fylicia Renee King. This piece was set in Omaha, Nebraska and took a look at one woman's wild mother, using a moving and grooving house party as the backdrop for her mother's world.

Dina Morrone

Morrone presented a short version of her production and it ran as if it was tailor made for the abbreviated slot. She guided though this presentation like she glided through her numerous costume changes. Everything about the piece was a joy kind of like slipping out a favorite shirt into the next popular shirt. A well-directed piece that used the stage to its fullest and she created the locale for the audience. Morrone has worn these characters all of her life and they come to life because they have touched her heart and that is what she shares with the audience. Even though a small arena, Morrone needs to develop more tonal control so that each and every word is heard and not lost.

Monica Sanchez

Sanchez's piece doesn't click at all. She really needs a strong director to guide and shape this piece into the winner that it could be. Right there, Sanchez's energy runs unchecked and the presentation is nothing but constant motion a butterfly that never finds a moment to allow itself to enjoy the nectar. Sanchez is fascinating to watch and a very good performer who simply needs a guiding hand to make this project work to its fullest potential. It needs to be noted that one should never break that fourth wall out of character and it would not have happened had she had some strong directing. Her story also suffers in that it comes from out side sources as opposed to finding their way into her heart. If ever there was a project I would love to mold it would be this one because this actress has a wonderful charm on stage and it needs to be revealed.

Fylicia Renee King's "Mama Was a Bad Muther...Shut Yo Mouth" brought the evening to a close and she was a joy to watch from the beginning to the end. She made one groove, and smile, and laugh, and cry, and care for the character. She accomplished the goal of every performer. It would have been nice to see King use the stage more than she did and take the performance to each section of the audience - in doing so, she would have had totally in the palm of her hand. She has found the heart in her journey and touches other hearts as a result.

The hosts of this evening were the sultry 3 Blacque Chix (Mariann Aalda, Lola Love, Iona Moris), who are stars of their own stage hit, 'Herotique-aahh'. Their presence at the Festival makes one want to witness their stage show. They were perfect hosts so maybe their show is too.

The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival was founded by current Executive Producer Adilah Barnes and by Miriam Reed. Its Honorary Chairpersons are Danny Glover and Hattie Winston. Again, the Festival is an annual event unique among American cultural institutions and should be seen whenever it hits the stage. One drawback it only lasts a few days each year.