THEATER REVIEW:

Offering insight on issues of race and gender, the Alexia Robinson Studio in Burbank presents a powerfully moving rendition of “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.”

Robinson herself skillfully directs this extremely complex and emotionally charged production.

Originally conceived in 1975, playwright Ntozake Shange’s script exposes the trials and camaraderie of a group of African American women.

Constructed as a “choreopoem” this piece incorporates dance, song and the spoken word.

Robinson and casting director Jeannine Fisher deserve further credit for the cast they’ve assembled.

Whether collectively performing choreographer Ashlee Katrice’s unique dance combinations or individually relaying Shange’s intuitive monologues, this is a seamless ensemble.

Their characters, otherwise anonymous in name, are identified solely by the colors they wear.

It’s an ingenious method of keeping our focus trained on the often shocking images their stories convey.

For example, Shoneji Loraine appears as the Lady in Blue. Though hers is a soothing color, Loraine’s monologue detailing the affects of undergoing an abortion is anything but.

Likewise, Marlo Denise Stroud, as the Lady in Red, recounts the unspeakable horror of witnessing her children’s’ deaths at the hands of their father.

But perhaps the most unsettling portion involves Loraine and Stroud joined by Char White, the Lady in Purple, as they detail the depravity of domestic violence.

This scene, highly adult in nature, plays out with total commitment before our eyes as Marcus Nel-Jamal Hamm, the Antagonist, overpowers Madia Hill, the Lady in Yellow.

With the Chris Brown/Rihanna story making daily headlines, Robinson is to be commended for not shying away from the subject.

This is not to say, however, that the entire production centers on the painful or morose.

Deja-Lewis Smith and Andean Nicole Banks, the Ladies in Brown and Orange, bring a refreshing sense of youthfulness to their positions in this cast.

So too with Tiffany Snow, the Lady in Green, whose free-flowing rant on male insincerity brought down the house.

With each repetition of “Someone almost walked off with all my stuff,” Snow’s usage of rhythm and inflection grew in comic intensity.

Furthermore, Snow has expertly tapped into the monologue’s deeper meaning as her character struggles to preserve her dignity and self-esteem.

This jump-starts an absolutely hysterical collection of excuses and apologies offered to all of the women by their husbands and lovers.

Mark Alston’s sound design envelopes the virtually blank playing space quite nicely.

Unfortunately, his lighting seems to lag behind the performers as some of Robinson’s blocking leaves cast members inexplicably wandering into shadowed areas of the stage.

It’s a minor misstep though given the breathtaking passion and humor this one-act play packs into its 90-minute running time.

 DINK O’NEAL, an actor and member of the American Theatre Critics Assn., resides in Burbank.  DINK O’NEAL, an actor and member of the American Theatre Critics Assn., resides in Burbank.