“This is the end for me,” said Gloria (Temple Fortson) recounting her maturing daughter ignoring her after the school play, “Soon I’ll be the enemy.”
Desire Moments is a play about eight friends moving forward, mending relationships, striving to be better people, and learning to let go of how they thought life was supposed to be.
The cast consists of Teneisha Brown, Temple Fortson, Brian Garrison, John L. Geddie, Brian Menifee, Monica Smothers, Kevin Sylvain, and Shanika Thomas. Garrison shines as Eric, a devoted, but conflicted husband who feels having children has detracted from his marriage, and Brown is natural and charming as Sienna, a woman faced with the possibility of pregnancy, who later becomes involved with a reformed “player.”
The rest of the cast, unfortunately, lacks polish and professionalism – on opening night, there were many issues with projection throughout the performance, which is worrisome in a space as small as Redrum. There are also many moments when the actors seem to be reciting lines, rather than acting them out. Overall, the performers come across as committed, but inexperienced and awkward.
Desire Moments
by Leslie M. Scott-Jones
90 minutes
at Redrum – Fort Fringe
610 L Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
Details and tickets
Issues with length and pacing are my only complaint with the script. At 1 hour and 15 minutes, Desire Moments drags. (Most Fringe shows are just under an hour.) I’d suggest cutting the opening scene to start. Melodramatic and unnecessary, the death of Tru’s grandmother plays a small role in her story, and an even smaller role in the larger arch of the play. The monologues, though concise, seem authentic, while many of the larger group scenes play like a bad sitcom with too much “filler” dialogue.
An intriguing and unique journey through obstacles and situations that aren’t unique (they’re universal), Desire Moments could be worth producing with a more experienced cast and a tighter script.
Read your review and I must say that I agree but disagree. Yes, Desire Moments is a bit lengthy in comparison to other Fringe plays and the first scene is not that necessary. Cutting it out would not hurt the play at all.
As far as the entire cast, except for two of the actors, being “inexperienced and awkward” I completely disagree. If anything I think it is the other way around. Though Sienna’s monologue was a memorable one, there were numerous times where she was noticeably looking to get her lines (literally looking up in the air for her lines) and even stumbling on words or lines and having to restart her sentence. This happened throughout the entire play. I think she plays the character well, she could just use a little polishing with memorizing lines.
I really enjoyed Gloria’s monologue as she expressed her feelings about her daughter growing up. She had a very motherly demeanor and as a mother myself, I was able to relate to the bittersweet feeling of our kids outgrowing their mother.
Eric’s monologue has been getting a lot of attention mainly because it’s about telling the truth. Nobody likes the ugly truth and nobody likes to hurt anyone, especially our significant others with the harsh reality of situations. His monologue is the most memorable part of his performance.
I was very impressed with Kevin Troy… not Kevin Sylvain, and his performance as Slick. I think that his delivery was impressive. He convinced me that he was that character. The accent was flawless! I later learned that he is not from England but from Louisiana. All the more impressive! During the play, his accent, body language, wardrobe changes and overall delivery were on point. His monologue gave us deeper insight to this character who is in fact more than just a “player”. Great acting and great delivery.
As with the rest of the cast, each one Did well. I felt like I could relate at one level or another with each of their “universal” dilemmas.
The one last thing that I would like to point out is that at times it was a bit difficult to hear. I don’t blame the cast for this but more so the theatre itself. It is a very intimate environment and it doesn’t help that there are three air conditioning units that are running the whole time. Two in the back and one in the front. If the actors projected any more, certain scenes would just not be natural.
In conclusion, Desire Moments is a play in which many of us could relate. If I had to change anything about the play it would definitely be the length of the play.