The musical adaptation of Gloria Naylor's novel works because it weaves the stories of seven women into a rich tapestry. ILLUSTRATION BY Jody Hewgill View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

NEW MUSICAL BRINGS 'BREWSTER PLACE' ALIVE >> VETERAN ARENA-STAGE PERFORMERS SHINE IN WORLD PREMIERE

Review of Arena Stage's 'The Women of Brewster Place'

BY LUCIA ANDERSON

Date published: 11/1/2007

BY LUCIA ANDERSON

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

WASHINGTON--Watching the musical version of "The Women of Brewster Place" compared to reading Gloria Naylor's novel is like looking at a photograph of the Grand Canyon instead of actually standing on the rim of this natural wonder. You get an idea of the place, but the scope is missing.

That the adaptation works as well as it does is due to Tim Acito's ability to weave seven women's stories together in a (fairly) cohesive manner and his talent for writing music that captures the various elements of this heterogeneous community. This Arena Stage production is the work's world premiere.

Naylor treated each woman's story separately, and was thus able to delve deep into relationships, character traits and twists of fate that brought each of them to this dead-end ghetto.

These are women who have suffered much on their way to Brewster Place, and the suffering doesn't end when they get there. Acito has had to strip this dense tapestry down to a plainly woven fabric in order to fit it into a two-hour stage play. The basics remain, but much is lost in the telling.

Still, enough remains to identify the characters--Mattie, the mother who loved not wisely but too well; Etta Mae, who sought her fortune on the road and found only fool's gold; Kiswana, determined to bring power to the people of Brewster Place; Cora Lee whose obsession with babies didn't allow for the fact that they grow up; Lucielia, who makes excuses for her man and loses everything because of him; and Tee and Lorraine, who just wanted a place they could be together. And the songs fill out some of the spaces left blank by Acito's pruning.

Etta Mae's scorn for convention comes through loud and strong in "Makin' the Rounds" and "Man of God." Mattie's warm motherliness is evident in "Leave the Light On" and her unbreakable spirit in "This Ain't a Prayer (I'm Tellin' You)."

Lucielia analyzes her relationship with Eugene in "Adding It Up," and Kiswana tells her story in "Kiswana Browne," complete with Black Panther backup singers. Lorraine and Tee come to life in "Smile," about a day in the classroom, and "A Day at the DMV."

What: "The Women of Brewster Place" Where: Arena Stage's Kreeger Theater, 1101 Sixth St. S.W., Washington When: Through Dec. 9 Cost: $55-$74 More info: 202/488-3300; arenastage.org

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Date published: 11/1/2007