With raw emotion, dashes of humor, and a bold style, Judge Me Not comes out swinging from its first moments. Broken hearts, abused bodies, life and death – all the ups and downs of a group of African-American characters are laid bare in this exciting entry into the 2019 Capital Fringe Festival. Wrapping up with the axiom “the only person who can judge your past is you,” Judge Me Not serves as a confessional for a variety of black characters who share the common thread of overcoming the worst calamities life can throw at them.
Written by Indigo Ayo Ra (also known as Sheena D. Horne) with bold strokes and dynamic characters, the piece is a series of monologues and stories covering many years and experiences. Stylized in the tradition of such works as for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, the play is staged with alacrity by Ani Dae with engaging transitions between the vignettes. These interludes include the charming and wily Grandma Ole Dae – think one part emcee, one part griot, and another part sage – who serves to introduce many of the characters whom she says are her “grandbabies,” generations of offspring who endure tragedies galore.
Click image for tickets
Indigo steps into the cast as Grandma Ole Dae in a vivid portrayal that breaks the fourth wall and provides blessed relief from the highly emotional journeys of the other characters. The playwright also takes on the role of Nikki, one of the offspring who sits in the center of a group therapy session, reviewing her struggles with alcohol addiction.
[adsanity_rotating align=”aligncenter” time=”10″ group_id=”1455″ /]
Ani Dae takes on several roles as well, starting with a grieving mother who recounts the heart-wrenching story of her son’s abduction, and the proud Lady Diva, a performer who stands tall and expresses herself in spite of her misfortunes. Ms. Dae fully inhabits each of these very different women, providing distinctive portrayals that leap off of the stage.
The rest of the ensemble cast – Tiffany Strother, Melanie Jewel Howard, Latashia Carney, and Kenny North – each shine in their own moments as a homeless drug addict, a domestic rape victim, a former prostitute, and a black father of five. The stories they share are raw and seem ripped from the headlines.
Judge Me Not closes July 25, 2019 Details and tickets
While not overly political, the Black Lives Matter movement and the plight of African-Americans is looked at through the lens of hope, a remarkable feat given the heavy content of some of the scenes. These black lives certainly matter and the material illuminates the importance of not prejudging people – of any color – based on a quick judgment or surface glance.
You must be logged in to post a comment.