Diandra Reviews It All- By The Way, Meet Vera Stark Is Worth The Meeting

By The Way, Meet Vera Stark truly is a dramedy by weaving its comedy into the dramatic life of its leading lady, Vera Stark (played magnetically by Jessica Frances Dukes). Through this character we learn how representation, in entertainment, is a sincere dilemma amongst people of color. On one hand we want to be shown, but, on another, if all we are displayed as is “slave,” “criminal,” or “servant,” then are we truly being seen?

The tragedy of Vera Stark is that, ultimately, she is a human being that wants to be an actress: not a revolutionary. Jessica Dukes is so smart, charming, and vulnerable as Vera Stark. Every viewer could relate to this character because Jessica presents her as a person with a dream, and that is the most human a person can be. Everybody has a vision of themselves in their head, but being a black woman in the 1930’s made dreams, literally, impossible. Vera’s life is stuck as the maid to the high-pitched, super but charmingly dramatic Gloria Mitchell (played like a summation of every classic, Hollywood starlet by Jenni Barber). It is clear that Vera wants more, and her heart deserves it, but writer Lynn Nottage wants the audience to analyze whether black women can even dream to dream in such a racist time…. or now.

Heather Alicia Simms’ charismatic Lottie and Carra Patterson’s savvy Anna Mae Simpkins are like Vera: eager to be in the pictures but stuck being servants to white, wealthy families. Even their attempts to gain filmed roles leave them trapped in the same part of servitude. Yet, Vera is determined to break molds because SHE is a determined human, but, being black, every move seen as a “movement”. She is not seen, by those whom are white, as a human being making choices for herself as much as member of a community still questioned over whether they are human enough to have a choice. She is not entrapped by her blackness as much as their whiteness, and the ease of this revelation hits you like a bell through the ringing of humor. Every time Lottie, Vera, or Carra have to act like slaves or stereotypes to get a little ahead, you laugh because you are “in on their joke,” but you cry because these women have to make themselves a joke so they can either “move up” or stay alive.

Directed by Kamilah Forbes, By The Way, Meet Vera Stark is fiercely intelligent and should make people ponder over why society and Hollywood are too comfortable and systemically imposing upon people of color to both remain in and portray roles of service. I mention this point because it is the main theme of this play and production, especially in its second half. If the first half is filled with fierceness and optimism as we watch Vera Stark become determined to be a star, the next half is both her and our realization that “fame” is not all that its cracked up to be, especially when you never get the role you want. After 40 years of being in Hollywood, and suffering through the pangs of alcoholism and failed marriages, Vera is only seen as “the slave” from the classic film,”The Belle of NewOrleans.” She could have well-played any lead, but she was never freed to do so, of which the second half takes the form of a college panel analyzing this truth.

With costumes by Dede M Ayite and scenery by Clint Ramos, everything about this play, from cast to crew, enraptures you. The question is are you ready and open? For all that you may laugh, comedy is based on tragedy, and, nowadays, the tragedy of racism is still a prickly topic for people. Director Forbes does well to tie how past racism still interplays into today’s society, which makes you wonder how far we have socially moved forward and when people of color will have a clear say in their destiny and public display. By The Way, Meet Vera Stark Will Play At Signature Theatre till March 10. Located: The Pershing Square Signature Center- 480 West 42nd Street. It is 2 hours and 25 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. Buy A Ticket Here.