Charlayne Woodard’s ‘Pretty Fire’ @ Soul Rep Theatre
Promo photos by Thaddeus Jefferson
—Teresa Marrero
WOW.
Seldom do I begin a review with one word, but Soul Rep Theatre´s production of acclaimed actor Charlayne Woodard´s autobiographical play Pretty Fire deserves it.
Let´s get the wow factor straight. It does not come from a fancy production. This is as pared down as it gets: two actors, two benches, and occasionally an overhead projection. Under the direction of Tonya Holloway and with the exquisite performances of Renee Micha´el Jones and CD Lovehall, you have all you need to see and feel the emotional amplitude of this one-hour, twenty-minute play.
The piece sometimes uses narrative in self-reflective monologues (in one section, a grown-up Charlayne describes her premature birth at one pound, eight ounces). At other moments, narrative becomes dialogue among the actors and between some invisible characters.
Sound challenging? In the hands of a lesser company, it would be. However, it’s in the bare bones simplicity of the staging and the execution of the script that the magic occurs.
CD Lovehall performs the part of Charlayne at various points in her life, as Allie (her younger sister), Barbara, Minnie, Brother Wilson, and Hattie Tanksley. She conveys the innocence through which a child sees the world: the magic summer trips from Albany, New York to visit her grandparents; staying at their place down south in ´Dixie´—recalling buying a pair of summer flip flops, walking in the rain, seeing the ´lace trees´ (aka Bayan trees) hung with moss…and the frightening beauty of a huge burning cross on the horizon.
This is the “Pretty fire” Charlayne sees as a child, the fire that ignites fear in the heart of her otherwise fearless grandmother, who tells her: “This is an ugly fire.”
Renee Micha´el Jones´ physical and emotional range while playing multiple roles underscores the wow factor. The audience is witness to her acting chops as she morphs from Mommy, Nurse, Grandmama, Grandaddy, Mrs. Rosenblatt, Farmer, Fisherman, Grace, Uncle Willie and Marguerite. However, her frightening portrayal of the predator Robert Blair had me on my seat´s edge. Amazing—and in the talkback after the matinee I attended, the audience enthusiastically agreed.
The costume design by Kiera Powers is simplicity itself: black dress and black shoes for each actor. There are no wardrobe changes, nor are they necessary. Director Tonya Holloway also designed the set, and sound design is by Nash Farmer. While there are no sound effects, the music of Miles Davis (Granddaddy´s favorite) smooths the air. And with Charlayne’s “solo” in the church singing contest performed by CD Lovehall (clever Grandmama says her “dying wish” is to hear one of her grandkids sing solo at church), we experience the energy of a Black Southern Baptist church infused by the Holy Spirit. I mean, this called for a foot-stomping hallelujah from all of us!
Of course, the heart of Woodard’s fine script lays a firm foundation for this personal yet universal story. It is a story that both Black and white Americans share about the awful man that Charlayne, in her youthful ignorance, said everyone hated: Jim Crow.
Pretty Fire is accessible for all ages. I predict it will be remembered as one of the best plays of this season, and ought to be shared with friends and family before it closes April 19.
WHEN: April 11-19, 2025
WHERE: Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St., Dallas
WEB: soulrep.org
