Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Stephen Adly Guirgis’s jazzy, character-driven OUR LADY OF 121ST STREET is sensationally revived

• By drediman
• June 9, 2018
• No Comments

Stephen Adly Giurgis’s “Our Lady of 121st Street” at Signature Theatre Company.

Last night, I caught up with Signature Theatre Company’s sensational revival of Our Lady of 121^st Street by Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist Stephen Adly Guirgis. I had last seen the character-driven play – which depicts a motley group of former classmates who reunite in Harlem for the funeral of their influential parochial school teacher Sister Rose – performed way back in 2004 in a production by Chicago’s formidable Steppenwolf Theatre Company. As an impressionable young theater-goer, I remember being stimulated by Mr. Guirgis’s urban, poetic writing and his carefully-drawn, complex roster of characters.

Revisiting the play almost 15 years onwards, I’m somewhat surprised that I still stand behind those early sentiments. Few playwrights out there write with the same understanding of the contradictions housed within us and the vitality of the human spirit. Although his characters are almost always deeply flawed people, Mr. Guirgis writes with great compassion and punchy authenticity. Indeed, even though not much happens in Our Lady of 121^st Street, it was a great privilege just to spend time with this endlessly fascinating, entertaining, and surprising crew.

As I mentioned, the Signature Theatre production is simply wonderful. It’s capably helmed by acclaimed actress-turned-director Phylicia Rashad, who is in perfect synch with the exhilarating musicality and brash poetry of Mr. Guirgis’s writing. And what a cast she has at her disposal. I won’t single out anyone in particular, but her tight ensemble – made up of some of the most charismatic, talented actors currently working in New York theater – is simply glorious to behold, riding and riffing on the playwright’s jazzy, often hilarious composition with intensity and glee.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

OUR LADY OF 121^ST STREET
Off-Broadway, Play
Signature Theatre Company
2 hours (with one intermission)
Through June 17