Review: The Black Rep's Moving Production of BLACK PEARL SINGS!

John and Alan Lomax were pioneering folklorists and ethnomusicologists who tracked down songs and performers to produce field recordings that provide a compelling picture of our cultural history in musical terms. Oft times, their recordings required them to travel to remote locations, or even prisons, to find heretofore undiscovered gems. Black Pearl Sings!, by playwright Frank Higgins, is an intriguing and fictionalized take on their unique talent for ferreting out these songs, here casting an ambitious female in their role. The Black Rep's current production is an engaging glimpse into the processes individuals like the Lomax brothers utilized, and it features sharp direction and a terrific two person cast.

Susannah Mulally is a driven young woman trying to find her niche in the academic world during the Great Depression. She has a knack for finding song material of historical significance, but her first attempts were credited to a powerful man in a male-dominated profession. So, she's decided to look through the Texas penal system in order to try and find something or someone to make her name on. Enter Pearl Johnson, a convict who's serving time on a chain gang for forcibly removing a man's member, who catches Susannah's ear with her singing. The ambitious Susannah meets her match in the equally headstrong Pearl, and though sparks fly initially, the basis of some sort of friendship, or at least a sense of mutual respect, is formed.

The recordings don't begin, however, until Johnson's demands are met. She wants Susannah to do another kind of detective work, imploring her to find the daughter she left behind when she was incarcerated. Eventually, Pearl is paroled, but conditionally, earning her keep by performing her material for some longhairs who may be able to further both their careers. A sudden turn of events adds to the drama, and in the end, brings both characters closer to one another.

Denise Thimes is a powerful presence as Pearl, and communicates her mood and feelings with every fiber of her body. Thimes gets the opportunity to sing several moving and entertaining selections over the course of the evening, and her splendid, full-bodied voice ably captures the expressed meaning of every lyric. What's especially remarkable is that, with the exception of a few numbers where she's accompanied by her co-star on the auto-harp, these are all a capella renditions that rely solely on her voice and considerable personality to carry them.

Shanara Gabrielle, as Susannah is a wonderful contrast to Pearl, and she also delivers some fine vocals on a number of folk tunes, as well as in unison and harmony with Thimes. Susannah's determination stems from her desire to make a name for herself, since she mentions early on how she "disowned" her wealthy family. Thankfully, the playwright allows her to grow enough emotionally so that she stops short of completely exploiting Pearl, even though she comes awful close to doing just that.

Andrea Frye's direction is superb, and even though there are only two people on stage at any given time, interest never wanes. Charles Creath does lovely work as musical director, guiding these actresses through a bevy of timeless classics culled from our musical history. Heather Beals contributes some playfully raunchy choreography for Pearl to teach Susannah in order to loosen her up. Christopher Pickart's scenic design is simple, effective and evocative, allowing us to focus on the actors and accept their surroundings, without drawing unnecessary attention. Sean Savoie's lighting scheme neatly frames the action and the actors, and Felia Davenport's costumes seem like accurate fits for this period piece. Robin Weatherall's sound design sets the mood with an eclectic array of selections.

The Black Rep's moving production of Black Pearl Sings! is touching, funny, and just plain entertaining, and it continues through May 15, 2011 at the Grandel Theatre.