Sowa’s Red Gravy is a wild and woolly show about witchcraft and spells through generations of black life, on a fascinating symbolic set by John Scheffler with shelves of mystical jars totems, amulets and other witch stuff. Director Woodie King, Jr. has put together a flawless cast of master comic actors of the highest level — seasoned performers who know how to make the absurd real.
There are narrations, starting with Lonette McKee, who, in act two branches into a couple of knockout personifications including the funniest crone in town and as a faded white star.
Kene Holliday’s overblown character of The Devil segues into the hilarious, with great physical moves — in a monologue in act two, he gives a masterful rant and demands that his birthday be celebrated – just like Jesus.
Strong, physically supple Jonathan Peck commands the stage as philanderer and others. Sexy Kimberly “Q”, built like the proverbial “brick outhouse,” is a master of the comic gesture— every smirk or curl of the lip brings laughs. Sexy Toni Seawright has great power and range— she’ll knock you out of your seat. Gary E. Vincent does a very funny short bit as a stutterer who has fits of sleeping sickness, and later, as a preacher with the body of a slinky. He’s wiry, graceful and blows a spectacular tour-de-force sermon.
Dynamic dancer Iris Wilson leaps, twirls, wriggles, and even acts- all over the stage, and drummer David D. Wright rhythmically lifts it all up.
It’s all somewhat of a vaudeville show with African legends, folk tales of the 1800’s and 1920’s thrown in, and a tale of a Jewish baker, Aaron Fried (who, in act one, also plays a hysterical white man fearful of being downgraded). The whole mix is impossibly outrageous, free and hilarious, with a touch here and there of real feeling. Imaginative costumes by Niiamar and perfect lighting by Antoinette Tynes fulfill the show.
Woodie King, Jr. gives us a wildly-staged, really funny show in this farce filled with magic and with actual (although tangential) human feelings.
