Stage Reviews : ‘A Slice of Life’ at Coronet Disappoints, Needs Work

What to make of the Lafayette Players-West’s “A Slice of Life in Black, Brown and Beige” now at the Coronet?

Previous work by this group (such as “Zooman and the Sign” produced in 1983) was strong stuff that promised the development of a strong and dedicated company. But “Slice of Life” is a disappointment. It feels more like a school recital than a professional show.

In spite of being organized into four sections entitled “In the Beginning,” “Pain and Survival,” “Love” and finally “The Revolution,” the program lacks shape and definition. Transitions are labored and director Virginia Capers (founder of the Lafayette Players) has packed too much into this event without sufficiently compelling artistic justification.

The poems by Langston Hughes, Richard Thomas, Paul Laurence Dunbar, James David Corrothers, Ossie Davis and Alice Walker among many others are best when simply done. Too frequently, however, they are victimized by elaborate theatrical choreography that merely gets in the way.

Underscoring the poems with beautifully sung spirituals usually works (Capers’ “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” and Bruce Nelson’s “Steal Away” are highlights), but dances that are scattered throughout the show seem extraneous, even though performed by pros such as Cassandra Brown.

Notable in the 18-member company aside from Brown, Nelson and Capers (who does Hughes’ touching “The Negro Mother”) are Dierdre Weston and Michael Venson. Both are vivid performers in a variety of roles. The balance of the group is well-intentioned but uneven.

Quicker transitions, with blackouts replacing slow dissolves and long crosses, would help pick up the pace. Beyond that, however, this “Slice of Life” still needs heavy editing with a judicious hand. There is work to be done.

At 366 N. La Cienega Blvd. Thursdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays 3 p.m., until Nov. 27. Tickets: $20; (213) 659-1223.