Tucked away in a corner of a small shopping center in Rolando, Moxie Theatre, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, is presenting a one woman show, “Cleopatra”, written and conceived by Joy Yvonne Jones. How fitting that this one woman show is playing at the very theatre that was founded by women with a platform specifically for women playwrights, of and for women exploring women of interest.
The show is dedicated to Dea Hurston, another mover and shaker of women in theatre and directed by Andréa Agosto in collaboration with Loud Fringe Theatre Group.
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| Joy Yvonne Jones |
Jones, no stranger to Moxie (“Voyeurs de Venus”) won the Craig Noel Award for outstanding Featured Performance on her acting journey across the country. Her interest and studies of Shakespeare presents a modern day take on the Bards fierce and captivating ‘Queen of Egypt’ and her two loves, and or lovers, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Carrying Caesar's child, her one and only wish was for him to marry her so he could become the rightful heir to the throne.
Jones’ piece is interactive as members of the audience (5) were given short readings and on a musical cue, they stood and read their pieces. Never leaving character, Jones even had one of the readers who was supposed to bow, Bow!
Using projections (Michael Wogulis) on a large screen behind her where De Andre Simmons “I have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him…” appears as Mark Antony. There other projections of sorts to move the story forward, but for the most part Jones is on the stage with only her maidservant, Charmain played my Kayla Adorno who has very little to do but move props(Finn Foster) around and on occasion help Jones change into one of her many colorful costumes (Zoë Trautmann).
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| Joy Yvonne Jones and Kayla Adorno |
As a woman who knows her own mind, Cleopatra is one with which to be reckoned. She plots and plans to conquer the Romans and become Queen of the entire Roman Empire, manages to meet and fall in love with Mark Antony, realizing Caesar will never marry her with or without an heir. She even plans her own death. But I get ahead of myself.
Jones is captivating, stoic, in charge (except when she can’t calm her crying baby), and she does it with the strength of a woman who knows will succeed. But for the men who will try to stop her, Cleopatra’s story is told from her point of view. Unfortunately, up until the present, we as women let men define us (need I mention the political atmosphere today), and a Black one at that, but no more. Cleopatra was a woman way ahead of herself and Jones held the torch for us all.
Eleanor Williams designed the set, Sammy Webster, the lighting, Choreographed by Lesa M. Green, with Tori Jones as stage mgr.
As usual, the one act, without intermission, went on a bit to long but it was worth it seeing the regal Jones in her element. As to her death, some say she was bitten by an asp. Other interpretations claim she poisoned herself so she could die next to Mark Antony. After all, she was a master planner of her own fate. Do your homework.
Hat’s off to both Moxie and Joy Yvonne Jones.
Enjoy.
See you at the theatre.
When: Through Sept. 7. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays
Where: Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Rolando, San Diego
Photo: Daren Scott
Tickets: $47-$53, general; $20, students
Phone: (858) 598-7620
Online: moxietheatre.com
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