I enjoyed a recent Saturday night by checking out the hit play, The High Priestess of Dark Alley at the Billie Holiday Theater in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn’s Restoration Plaza. The Jackie Alexander play is set in Post Katrina New Orleans and unveils ugly secrets among a Creole family’s two sisters and their insanely controlling mother. Her old school influences left bitter effects in the two daughters, played by Aura Vence and Mari White, inspiring a rebellion to freedom—they chose not to stay within the color struck confines of their mother’s social circles or submit to false perceptions that would make them unhappy in the long run.
The play is incredibly moving and can resonate with ANY audience member on various levels, namely the relationships we have with our parents that in turn affect the relationships with have with ourselves. Mari White’s character started her life on a path that would give her mother less to worry about but she had a hefty price to pay. Zeb Hollins, or Frankin, was the poor victim of the mother’s wrath as well. Many other elements of contemporary African-American social issues were explored in this play, and each scenario will leave you laughing or reflecting on how many aspects of our own lives are alive and well in The High Priestess of Dark Alley. Not all writers, directors or producers can pull off such a combination of themes and for that alone I give the play two thumbs up. Gold stars for High Priestess of Dark Alley! Of course we are recession conscious, so it may be helpful to know that the play is less than twenty bucks per head. Kudos to the cast, director and the Bille Holiday theatre for hosting such a wonderful theatrical work.
For more information on the play and how to get tickets, log on to www.zerve.com/BHolidayInc/DrkAlley. Also call.212-209-3370 or 718-636-0918.
Posted by: Lande
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