For Colored Girls Who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf is a Chorepoem that captures the myriad of emotion that makes up the human condition. It is a snapshot of a time period that is timeless in its depiction due to the fact that those experiences are as relevant now as they were then.
Lady In Brown bookends the production as she narrates and reflects on the journey. Lady In Yellow captures the naivete of youth in all its simple complexities as she is on the cusp of blooming. Lady In Purple shows the transition from being infantilized in romance to maturing as you understand your worth and the strong community of womanhood. Lady In Orange is the avatar of longing bursting with creativity looking for a platform to connect with others. Lady In Blue embodies the themes of loss and grief through her outcry for some type of emotional support. Lady In Green focuses on the resilience within that one finds after heartbreak how strength can be found be reclaiming her personal power. Lady In Red provides intense narratives driven by the extremes whether they romantic, sexual or empowering in nature.
This revival of For Colored Girls Who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf starts the 2026 season of stage plays at the Regency Theatre off right. The themes that are touched on by playwright Ntozake Shange in 1975 illuminate the darker corners of everyday life for women that are sadly still issues today, but she makes sure to also remind the audience that hope is always present with the indomitable will to strive for a better day through solidarity. The seasoned direction by Sue McCrea shows as she is able to get performances from this cast in this new production of the play by the Freeport Players’ Guild that gives it modern refresh from the 1996 production. Darrol Stubbs as a producer brings his undeniable eye for the dynamic in the way this Choreopoem is presented to the audience. Caline G. Newon as Lady In Red, Yamease Swain as Lady In Blue, Colette Parker as Lady In Orange, Megan Guarro as Lady In Green, Shakaara Jones as Lady In Purple, Demetria S. P. Sherman as Lady In Yellow and Wybe Magazine’s very own Keva Lockhart as Lady In Brown give performances that hint at the potential they each hold within themselves and I look forward to seeing what other productions they grace with their considerable talents. For those coming to this stage presentation after watching the Tyler Perry directed movie, I must remind you that the source material that is being performed is a choreographed collection of poems touching on the diaspora of womanhood which means you should not expect a linear narrative. This is a show for mature audiences so parents can leave the kids at home and partake in a theatrical experience that is sure to inspire conversation. The showings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday were worth braving the elements to experience so I hope you got a chance to enjoy it like I did because an encore is always in the cards if enough support is shown.
