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| Cast |
Lynn Nottage’s “Intimate Apparel” won 2004 NY Drama Critics Circle and Outer Circle Awards for best play. It received the John Gassner Award, 2004 Drama Desk, Obie and American Theatre Critics Steinberg 2004 New Play Award. And… it’s playing here in Solana Beach at The North Coast Repertory Theater through Feb. 4th.
Nottage snaps and frames a picture perfect of one uneducated African American woman who, at the turn of the century (1905) makes ‘intimate apparel’ for the rich and restless socialites of the upper class New York Society as well as for the prostitutes in the Tenderloin District. It is a tapestry whose story is woven through the fabric of the lives of those who are trapped in their own cultures, customs and societal ways.
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| Madeline Barker |
It is a well- seasoned and well rounded/excellent production splendidly directed by Jasmine Bracey with Nedra Snipes as Esther Mills, daughter of former slaves.Esther is so talented and with a well deserved reputation, that unhappy in her marriage socialite Mrs. Van Buren (Madeline Barker), takes Esther in her confidence and almost falls in love much to Esther's chagrin. From the rich and famous to the lower echelons she is also seamstress to her friend Mayme, (Arizsia Staten) a high- class prostitute whose conquests are shared with Ester on a regular basis.
Esther is well respected and yes, loved from afar by Mr. Marks, (Jonathan Fisher, Jr ) the Orthodox Jew who sells Esther his most treasured fabrics of imported silks from which she makes her cherished items.
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| Nedra Snipes and Jonathan Fisher, Jr |
Theirs is a hands off love affair that takes place right under their noses but as religious and cultural restraints forbid their closeness they continue their business relationship with a tension as thick as an entire bolt of fabric. Brilliant in her comparison’s, playwright Notting places them on a parallel playing field; both are unwed, waiting for mail order spouses to arrive and fulfill their marital obligations. And both share a love of beautiful and expensive fabrics.
Esther is thirty -five and does not have ‘her own man’; she has no one to really connect with. Out of the blue, she begins a correspondence, although she neither reads nor writes, with George Armstrong, (Donald Paul) a West Indian on the Panama Canal construction crew, who would very much love to come to New York and marry her. She is elated and in her loneliness convinces herself that she’s in love.
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| Donald Paul |
Her landlady, Mrs. Dickson, (Teri Brown) who owns the boarding house Esther has lived in since she arrived in New York, has concerns about George’s motives but not enough to shake Esther’s happiness. Esther makes a leap of faith, very much out of character, that leads to a predictable disaster in Act II Under Jasmine Bracey’s solid direction and with poignant and determined acting, Snipes gives us an accurate portrayal of a woman’s restraint, elation, surprise, disappointment and finally resignation. She is easygoing yet poised as Esther threads her way through what should be a most happy time in her life to the worst case scenario.
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| Arizsia Staten |
Arizsia Staton shows her excellence as a most talented and versatile actor as the high class, jazz playing prostitute who shares secrets and an occasional drink with her friend Esther. Her portrayal of Mayme is both funny and painful as she cleans herself after having sex in what might be called a whore’s bath, and then dabs herself with talc in all her intimate parts.
Donald Paul cuts quite a dashing figure of transformation from laborer to play boy while Fisher, Jr is able to subtly move his character of an Orthodox, hands off Jew to a more cautious and daring suitor.
Ms. Brown is a powerful presence on any stage, and on target as Esther’s mentor, friend and adoptive parent. She’s funny, all knowing in her wisdom and while oft times offering unsolicited advise, knows from whence she comes.
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| Teri Brown |
Madeline Barker is the token high -class white woman who consults with Esther on all that socialites are wearing ‘these days’ as well as her unhappiness in her loveless marriage. She gives a lightness yet evokes pity.
Marty Burnett’s layered set with see through curtains showing another story in the background has period colors, sewing machine, several rooms, all different in décor separating one location from the other, and cubbies along the stag that holds the different bolts of fabric is picture perfect on the long stage NCR.
Matt Novotny’s lighting design in itself another character emphasizing the backlighting when George comes on to the scene sharing his stories of his days on the crew of the building of the Canal to the loneliness he feels and…his longing to come to New York. The rest are in muted tones in keeping with shaded lighting of the period. Elisa Benzoni’s costumes are picture and period perfect for each character.
Peter Herman’s wigs are perfect and Evan Eason’s sound design along with Arizsia Staton playing Honky Tonk on the piano puts the topping on a well-deserved production.
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| Nedra Snipes and Donald Paul |
Lynn Nottage’s bittersweet saga of self -discovery, and a woman’s courage should be an inspiration to all who take in this excellent production and who, like yours truly, was spellbound overall.
When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through Feb. 4
Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach
Tickets: $49-$74
Phone: (858) 481-1055
Photo: Aaron Rumley
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