Publisher: Elizabeth Hurd

George Adams Delightfully Directs “Talking With…” at the Paramount Theatre

Elizabeth Hurd Published: August 29th, 2016

“Talking With…” is a delightful series of monologues that gives us a clue of the feminine experience. The award winning play reveals much of the mystery that motivates women without violating the ‘feminine mystique’ that surrounds women. “Talking With…” has none of the shock and shame that “The Vagina Monologues” expresses over a decade later and it accomplishes a great deal more. Comparing the two plays is apples and oranges outside of the surface similarities in the monologue format, and of course the informative aspects. “Talking With…” premiered at the Humana Festival of New American Plays in 1982 and has earned several awards. While “Talking With…” exposes women in their sorrow and joys the mystery is not quite solved. Not surprising as playwright Jane Martin is, herself, quite a mystery in her own right. Martin has never been identified and speculations regarding her identity only enhance the curiosity surrounding “Talking With…”

The play consists of several separate monologues each approximately 10 minutes in length. In the individual segments each woman tells her own life story with poignancy even though the accounts range from tragic to humorous and from typical to extraordinary. Director George Adams cast 10 established Oklahoma actresses to present “Talking With…” using the minimalist set at the Paramount in downtown Oklahoma City.

The ensemble cast includes Summer Nolan, charming in ‘Fifteen Minutes’ followed by Rodonna Carter distressing in ‘Clear Glass Marbles,’ Michaelene Stephenson is over the edge in ‘Audition’ and Kristi Choplin ropes us in ‘Rodeo.’ Brenna Betz presents ‘Twirler’ to climax the first five monologues in the first act. The unique qualities of each performer create tension that ranges from sorrowful to humorous capturing the attention of the audience with almost no movement. One of the monologues, ‘Audition’ also features a cat to portray Tat The Cat and he nearly steals the show!

The second act features five more of Oklahoma City’s finest actresses. These actresses are Anna J. Holloway moving in ‘Lamps.’ Jessica Bisel connects in ‘Handler,’ and Ijeoma Anyaoku Popoola labors convincingly in ‘Dragons.’ Zaneen Hotchkiss amuses in ‘French Fries’ and Kassy Nicholson disturbs in ‘Marks.’ With the exception of ‘Lamps’ there is virtually no movement yet each of the actresses connects with the audience significantly and powerfully.

The stories reveal the innermost thoughts of the characters; some of them are silly, some of them are certifiable, others are intensely sad or pitiable and taken together they strip women of their facades tenderly and devastatingly. “Talking With…” exposes the frailties of womanhood disturbingly and this performance does not fail to make us a little uncomfortable and somewhat wiser.

The Paramount Theatre is tucked away in the back of the space at 11 Lee Street, just north of Sheridan. For further information contact 405-637-9389 or visit www.paramountokc.com.

Paramount Arts includes The Paramount Cinema just around the corner on Sheridan and Noir Bistro & Bar right on the corner. Each has a special charm and draw for Oklahoma sophisticates and we certainly expect more great productions from Adams. One more weekend remains of “Talking With…” with the last performance on Saturday, September 3, 2016 with an 8pm curtain. “Talking With…” is an excellent choice, so don’t miss it. Come a little early for parking and start the evening at Noir Bistro & Bar.