The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Kirsten Childs
Directed by Khira Hailey
Music Directed by Vonda K. Bowling
The Band
Vonda K. Bowling Music Director/Piano/Conductor
Terence Hobdy Drums
Andrew Goins Bass
Christian Gonzalez Flute
Choreographer Kevin Davis, Jr.
Asst Director Whitney Coulter
Stage Manager Taliyah Salih
Asst Stage Manager Cherie Williams
Sound Designer Rayven Harris
Light Designer Holli Price
Scenic Designer Taylor Allen
Costume Designer Whitney Coulter
Scenic Painter Jennye James
Technical Director Colin Schwartz
Electrics Nikki DeShea
My thoughts on The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin or… Bubbly finds her way.
I hate to admit that I have been in Texas six years this month, and this was my first trip to Jubilee Theatre in Fort Worth. I am devastated to think of all the great theater I must have missed. However, my first time turned out to be an exciting, refreshing, joyful, tuneful, and provocative evening of theater.
Book, music, and lyrics writer Kirsten Childs takes us from the sixties to the nineties through the eyes of the bubbly Black girl Viveca who is immersed in all things white and longs to be white herself. The news of the four little girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing of 1963 is shocking news to Viveca and her first realization of racial hatred.
Viveca’s coming of age story spans from the Beatlemania era into the Broadway world of the end of the last century. There is much humor, some of it uncomfortable, as Childs uses Viveca’s story to address racism, sexism, and even show biz problems.
The songs are almost nonstop in this ninety-minute musical and Childs has a great ear for tunes and a gift for clever, witty, and sometimes profane lyrics and dialogue. Music Director Vonda K. Bowling and the band have the pop flavored score that’s also a little bluesy and a little doo wop, sounding sweet, cool, and sexy. Also cool, sexy, and high energy is the remarkable choreography of Kevin Davis, Jr. Davis somehow pays homage to dozens of dance styles in this almost four decade spanning musical. That Davis does this without being imitative or derivative is nothing short of genius. This truly inspired choreography is often surprising and always fun to watch.
Bubbly Is staged on a multilevel set designed by Taylor Allen and its bright colors and shapes are reminiscent of those teen dance shows of long ago. And speaking of long ago, Whitney Coulter’s costumes, especially for the hippie period, are spot on. It was like a mini trip back to my high school days.
Khira Hailey directs Bubbly with a skillful and loving hand. Although the show is only ninety minutes, it never feels rushed. Hailey knows just when to change the pace to highlight a moment, character, or song. It is also obvious that Hailey has a strong eye for casting here as this cast is perfection.
The central character of Viveca is played by Maranda L. Barris. Barris captures all of Viveca’s naive effervescence and is pure girlish sweetness in the title role. It is wonderful to watch how Barris changes the character subtly as Viveca begins to mature and the world around her becomes less and less pleased by her bubbly personality. Barris, who is also an excellent vocalist, has the audience on her side from the very first scene and she keeps us involved in her journey taking us with her to an ultimate place of pride and self-realization.
As Viveca’s childhood friend Gregory, Dwight Taylor early on is all boyish charm as he rides his bike holding on to imaginary handlebars and singing “Beautiful Bright Blue Sky” about his adolescent crush on Viveca. They go their separate ways for a while but meet up again in the 70’s when Gregory has become a handsome young man, but fate intervenes once more. I have seen Taylor on stage many times and have always admired his voice and acting. Bubbly is yet another testament to his skills.
The gifted actor and honey voiced crooner Octavian Lewis appears as Viveca’s loving father. The father convinces Viveca she need not fear anything because of her bubbly smile. “A happy smile on a happy face is a gift from God to lift up the human race,” he sings to her. However, the terrific singer and actor Kris Black Jasper as her mother knows that Viveca will face many struggles and wants her husband to be more realistic. Both Jasper and Lewis also sing and dance in the ensemble throughout the show.
I regret using the word “ensemble” when referring to this talented group who play so many parts throughout the production as well as singing and dancing. Unfortunately, the names of the supporting parts are not listed, so I am able to recognize only a few for their contributions. The ensemble includes Jada Jay, Kayla Marshall, Sydney Hewitt, who is hysterical as the grandmother and wows the audience singing “Granny’s Advice,” Donovan Marie Lawson, who becomes Viveca’s white Chitty Chatty doll, Peter Radzikevich, who makes both an outstanding hippy dude and Broadway Director Bob, Devin Gaut II, who plays the gay dancer Keith has comedy skills and some dynamite dance moves, and Andre Pernell Williams, who is seduction personified as Lucas leading Viveca into temptation with “Come With Me.” Williams plays Lucas with such fire that I overheard a woman behind me saying, “He wouldn’t have to ask me twice!”
There is so much more to The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin than I have noted here. Along with the humor and cleverness, Kirsten Childs weaves in important lessons for all of us. Bubbly is a triumph for the cast, crew, and creatives and one of the best musicals I have seen in DFW. And Jubilee, it won’t take me six years to come back.
Photo by @jcicreatives
