Blood Sisters
Blood Sisters
Book & Lyrics by Malikah Harris and Jacquelyn Graham
Direction by Marion J Caffey
Blood Sister Holdings
Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival – Yellow Venue</strong>
It’s a feminine world inside the Blood sister’s house. The only man on stage (narrator Donald Wilcox) is off in the shadows, thumb nailing the action that comes between the songs. There’s an entire 90 minute musical here somewhere, but today we just hear the songs which are enough to keep us aligned on the path this family travels. Matriarch Momma (Toy Matthews) resplendent in a red dress, heel and power hair runs the show, but she is regularly challenged. Her defense reside in the funk heavy “Run This House” and you heard this somewhere I’m sure – it’s my way or the highway. Death and success are equally likely, but when Tequila (Ella Glasgow) gets kicked out in “Hit That Door”, she loses her only safety net. “Wash Wash Wash” highlights the crisis negotiation of three women, one mirror on a Saturday night, and after everyone has an attempt at life, we summarize in the open mike night ensemble “What About Your Real Friends?”
The music merge all the classic black styles from blues to soul and gospel and adds a few new ones like neosoul and beats, fusing a solid and up lifting musical out of the raw material. I give points to the writing team of Harris and Graham, they’ve created a tight, interesting musical environment that lets these women show there feminine strengths. As presented, there are gaps in the story, but I’m assuming that these are covered in the non-musical dialog and action. Energy, hope, and faith – all are here, and all keep your fingers napping and you attention engaged.
This show is part of the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival. Tickets and other information may be found at http:\www.OrlandoFringe.org
