Last Chance

North on South Central Ave: Theatre Perception Consortium’s evocation of the black club scene’s heyday in 1940s L.A. seems a cinema extravaganza waiting to be developed, some textual awkwardness notwithstanding. Drawing from actual events, director Karla Klark and co-authors Tu’Nook and Larry J. Robinson build their double-layered scenario around Old Willie (the wonderful Michael Massengale). This narrative, punctuated by floor-show appearances of legends ranging from Little Walter (Robinson) to Billie Holiday (Bonita Brisker), swings and cauterizes, leading to an all-too-relevant somber coda.

-- David C. Nichols

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Ends Sunday at Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica. (310) 581-3907.