Gordon James has a captivating presence from the moment he walks out on stage. His booming voice proclaims, “Life is Love. Love is Universal. This could be anyone. Outbursts me. Outbursts you.” And so begins our journey as James is embodied by seventeen different “spirits” that use his body, voice, movement and expressions to share with us a “burst” of their life. A moment in which the universal theme is the search for love…a love the could be a yearning for sex, friendship, trust, lust, companionship and even perhaps just being the preferred cab fare.
He begins with “Vixen,” a sensuous, black woman dressed in a revealing red dress (that James has fashioned from a red sheet that he will continuously use as a prop), clad in six inch heels and holding a phone line which she offers to her “lover, ” an unsuspecting audience member. Then all at once this brash, sexy woman whose titillating movements ensnare us as she writhes and undresses on a beanbag, invites us all to share in rapturous phone sex with her lover. Last Friday, on opening night in Los Angeles, she picks as her lover, which just so happens to be my husband, Alex. Shyly holding the other end of the phone line he obliges. The audience is rolling with laughter.
Next our “host” manifests himself into Thomas “the Corporate Guy” who asks us to relate with his issue of gaining equality and love from his city. He is an educated, well dressed, affluent man who is accused of becoming too white in his quest for success yet is snubbed by a cab driver, who suspects he is “trouble” after dark and passing him up on the street. He claims, “I wish I was Wonder Woman, Nancy Drew — white girls got their spell on you!”
James continues effortlessly transitioning from one character to another with as little costume changes as the red sheet, a black t-shirt, black pants, heels, men’s dress shoes and in the case of Alexis the drag queen, a wig. More powerful was his ability to seamlessly morph his physicality and voice to bring each of our “poets” unique qualities to life. Some of my favorites include Brooklyn Girl, Ruffneck, Casanova and of course, Alexis.
Gordon James is not only the talented performer in this piece; he is also its author. He wrote these poems and brought them to life on the stage in New York in November 2000. James’ gift for words captures the vulnerability of each character’s yearning for love and poses the reality of the loneliness in this quest as they desperately try to fulfill their need.
Maurice Jamal’s direction brought about cohesion the existing work was missing over the years, particularly in his set design of a “lived-in” one-room feel.
In speaking with James briefly after the show he seemed thrilled to have relocated to Los Angeles. We are lucky to have such talent.
Exhilarating, funny, moving and expertly written–a must-see performance!
The show runs through July 12th
Fri, Sat 8pm
Fri, Sat 10pm
Tickets are $20
You can reserve them online here or call (323) 960-7714.
Show located at:
Complex (The Flight) Theatre
6476 Santa Monica Blvd.
(between Cahuenga & Wilcox Bl.)
Hollywood, CA Â 90038
Ample Street Parking or $5 Valet
Review written by Guest Writer Vanessa
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1 Tresia R Nwamadi // Jun 16, 2008 at 11:29 am
I saw this show in NY and Gordon is an amazing talent! He is gifted and this show is amazing. I encourage all to go and not miss this event!
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