A NoHo Arts theatre review of JAM Productions’ “Abortion Weekend,” written, directed and starring Jairis Carter and Mareshah Dupree at this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival.
What a beautiful surprise “Abortion Weekend” is. Written and performed by the brilliant duo of Jairis Carter and Mareshah Dupree, this show is a gorgeous mix of realism, spoken word, song, and sweetly drawn characters from the life of two young women.
Friends for life, preacher’s daughter Dazia and her bestie Ayanna take us on quite a ride over the span of one weekend. As they plan their last days before leaving for college, Dazia finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and turns to her best friend Ayanna for help. The two of them navigate the many layers of their situation with humour, grace, fortitude and just a little bit of panic….so basically real life! It’s a tricky subject, although it should be far less so. But still, however you approach it, abortion is a tough decision, a scary enterprise and deeply emotional. But at least here in California, as these two girls find out, it’s legal and therefore safe. Between them they run the gamut of responses, thinking their way through every corner of this subject and discovering they have friends and support in places they would never expect.
This show is so brilliantly written. These characters are smart and silly and so wonderfully fleshed out that they jump right off the stage. Each actress also plays a number of other characters, cleverly transforming from one to the other on stage, which is a joy to watch. I particularly loved the grandmother and the auntie…so adorable and funny and true.
Bravo to Jairis and Mareshah for writing a play about abortion. Talking about the choices we have now and should always is very important and they deal with it with such an incredible understanding of everything that goes into a decision like this. Finding the grace to talk about the why was truly inspiring. We need to talk about that more than anything else I think. Its been a trap for far too long in this country.
Subject aside, “Abortion Weekend” is excellent. Two actresses with presence and talent and beautiful energy. They electrify the stage. I couldn’t take my eyes off them, every moment of this play was brilliant.
Can you tell I liked it? Also, their singing had me tingling and smiling and weeping. Incredible show!!!!!
These two wonderful writers and actresses really are stars. I cant wait to see what they do next!
See what they’re up to here:
The Jairis and Mareshah Channel
When:
June 18 @ 6 pm
June 19 @ NOON
(Closing) June 23 @ 6pm:
Where:
The Broadwater
6320 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, 90038