BLKS

       By Joseph Cervelli

While there is certainly a plentiful amount of audacious humor in Aziza Barnes' new comedy "BLKS" at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space, the characters remain stagnant. As much as I was waiting for something of real interest to occur in the lives of the three 20-something African-American women, especially at the conclusion, it never materializes.  While the three roomates have an undeniable camaraderie their partying, boozing and sexual encounters become tiring. What is really disappointing is that the male character, Justin (an excellent Chris Myers),  who is a respectable guy is treated with disdain. If Barnes had created a loathsome character it would have made more sense in the realm of the play, but he plays an admirable fellow who could have added a dose of seriousness to the play.  Barnes concentrates on the graphic and brazen comedic aspects of the show with results resembling a cable sitcom.

The play begins in a Buswick apartment with a lot of moaning and then a scream when Octavia (a great Paige Gilbert) runs out of the bedroom  telling her female partner Ry (Coral Pena)
she has a mole on her clitoris. While certainly not funny Barnes does make it humorous especially because of Gilbert's hilarious comments thinking the worst. The second roommate Imani (an excellent Alfie Fuller) not sure what to do,  runs out to CVS to get bandages. Amidst all this calamity the other roommate math-whiz June (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) returns to the apartment in a state of distress finding out that her boyfriend has again been cheating on her. Probably around the eleventh time. While Crowe-Legacy is very good she does have a tendency to yell out her lines throughout the show which director Robert O'Hara could have curtailed. And for some strange reason a good deal of the staging  is on the left side so if you are seated on the right you can easily miss a good deal of the dialogue spoken with rapid fire delivery. It is when the women venture out to a club that the play takes place place more center stage.

Outside the club, June is accosted by a thug (Myers in a dual role)  who has been abusing a white woman (Marie Botha). Both Imani and Octavia try to get the police to come but being a basically a non white area they don't have much success being told that all units have been dispatched elsewhere. It is in the club that the play feels forced with silly humor, such as, Octavia meeting a serial thief of panties and June's encounter with Justin. There is a potentially good scene in which would be standup comic Imani tries to recreate Eddie Murphy's "Raw" routine only to fall flat. You later find out in a too quickly done scene the meaning of the that DVD in Imani's life.

There is a very touching yet fleeting moment where June is sitting in her bedroom in a white gown she wore at a gala her boyfriend took her to.

While Barnes is concentrating on the laughter which is fine, it deflates the issues facing these young women. The last and most troubling scene seems to indicate that they are on a vicious cycle and the potential that the characters fails to emerge.

PHOTOS: Deen van Meer

Tickets are available at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space 511 W 52nd Street.