‘The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin’ @ Jubilee Theatre
—Rickey Wax
The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin hits a high note as the fourth show of Jubilee Theatre’s 42nd season. This 90-minute coming of age musical is written by Kirsten Childs. The musical is packed with humor, wit, and infectious musical numbers that span a time frame from the 60’s to the 90’s.
The opening number Welcome to My LA introduces us to a young girl named Viveca, who goes by “Bubbly” and lives up to her name in every sense of the word. Viveca is devasted when she learns about a church bombing that has killed four little Black girls in Alabama in 1963. It’s at this point she decides her only chance of survival is by concealing her pain or discomfort with a smile. She utilizes that smile through years of schooling, only unleashing her true thoughts and feelings to her beloved doll Chitty Chatty.
Truthfully speaking, at some point in time most of us have heard the phrases “Smile through the pain” or “Fake it ‘til you make it”—and that’s just what Viveca does in her “public” life. But it’s during these intimate moments in her bedroom that Viveca becomes vulnerable, and we get a glimpse into her inner life. Bubbly explores and grapples with topics such as colorism, identity, race, and sexism in a pungent yet humorous way. How long can Viveca keep up the charade? Will it be enough to land her the dream of becoming a world-famous dancer?
Director Khira Hailey does an exceptional job of pacing this show so that each line, comedic or serious, packs a powerful punch. Additionally, he costume changes take place on stage; we see Viveca transforming. This becomes an invitation to the audience; we are engaged as we watch Viveca grow up before our very eyes, and blossom with each turn of events.
Lead actress Maranda Barris tackles the role of Viveca with seeming ease. She quickly proves herself to be a vocal powerhouse, delivering pitch-perfect ballads and sultry vocals from start to finish. The polyphonies in the production’s song list have elements of Jazz, Funk, and Pop, and only add to the ongoing sense of a battle—Viveca against the world.
The ensemble does a masterful job of portraying several characters throughout the show by changing their physicality and mannerisms to match the tone set by their lead actress. Cosmic Rainbow was my personal favorite (portrayed by Peter Radzikevich); you will need to catch the show to see why. And while it should be noted that there are many showstopping moments, it is Andre Williams who delivers a stirring performance of Come with Me that leaves the audience wanting more, and shifts the energy of the show tremendously.
Kris Jasper and Octavian Lewis, who play Viveca’s parents, have an undying chemistry on stage that plays well for the audience. The tenderness in their gazes is enough to pull the audience in and make it seem as if we are looking into the eyes of our own parents who just want to protect us. Whitney Coulter, the assistant director/costume designer, selected garments that appropriately represented the characters at each stage of Viveca’s life, from the groovy 60’s/70’s into the urbanization of the 90’s. The costumes, in combination with the choreography of Kevin Davis, were the icing on the cake for this showstopping musical.
Bubbly represents us at some point in our lives when we may have felt the need to hide behind a smile. Life may not always be easy and that is OK. The show reminds us we are human, and that we don’t have to be perfect to achieve our goals in life—though having a little resilience and grit can go a very long way.
If you are a fan of the doo-wop era and pristine harmonies, then this is the show you want to be in front of—especially with it being under the musical direction of DFW’s very own Vonda Bowling. It may be hard to contain your laughter, and you may find yourself dancing in your seat more than a bit. But really, how is that a problem?
WHEN: March 29 - May 5, 2024
WHERE: 506 Main Street, Fort Worth
WEB: www.jubileetheatre.org
