‘Passin’ ’ Delivers Obvious Message

The Afrikan Women’s Repertory-West presentation of Vivian Bonnie Wright’s comedy-drama “Passin’,” at the Complex, is filled with good intentions.

Wright tackles the issue of color prejudice within a single ethnic group, focusing on a doomed white wannabe who’s too dark to pass. But every step of the way, Wright’s script flashes “message” in a manner that might as well be lighted up in neon, and director Michele Rashida Turner works to further highlight the obvious.

In the first act, Wright contrasts the healthy relationship of light-skinned, perky Pat (Kasia Foster-Johnson, alternating with Marilyn Love) and her live-in junior-college boyfriend Glen (Donald Johnson, alternating with Michael Dyer) with curt, white businessman Kenneth (Randy Simer, alternating with John Mack) and his mistress, nauseatingly deferential, dark-skinned Lorraine (Elayn Taylor).

Pat’s first office job is under the supervision of middle-aged Lorraine. From her vantage point, and with the support of two other office workers, she blinks her doe eyes and gives pert declarations about Lorraine’s self-hate.

Taylor gives a moving performance of tightly controlled desperation in the midst of two different racial rejections--one black and one white--but it’s not enough to lift this play out of self-righteousness.

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* “Passin’,” Complex, 6472 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 4 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m. Ends Feb. 28. $20. (323) 932-1279. Running time:2 hours, 10 minutes.