Whether or not theatergoers who come to see “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” at the Geffen Playhouse are knowledgeable about the history of African-American actresses in Hollywood, chances are by the time the curtains close they will not only have gained interest in the topic, but also feel a desire to be friends with the fictional subject of the play.
With a talented cast, a fantastically witty script and a great balance of humor and depth, Jo Bonney’s “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” is enthralling from beginning to end.
The play begins with Vera (Sanaa Lathan) working as a maid for a famous Hollywood actress named Gloria Mitchell (Amanda Detmer), but it is immediately clear that Vera is a woman who is not afraid to speak her mind.
Although she is employed as Gloria’s maid, Vera instructs Gloria on what she should be wearing and scolds her for not practicing her lines enough. Even in this first scene, it seems as though this is a common interaction between the two characters. In fact, Vera goes so far as to push Gloria to help her become a part of the film industry.
Without any help from Gloria, Vera manages to accomplish her goal of earning a spot in the film industry and lands a major role in the same Southern epic that Gloria is working on. This is just the beginning of why Vera is the subject of this play.
The first act, which takes place in the 1930s, traces the character’s path of achievement. Vera is presented as a legend who threw Hollywood off its axis through her groundbreaking role in a Southern epic “The Belle of New Orleans.” She broke down barriers and opened doors for generations of black actresses, and as one character in the play noted, “Vera was in the role, and commenting on it.”
However, a simple description of the character does not do justice to the charisma and sass that Lathan brings to the role of Vera Stark.
Even with her endless supply of energy and personality, Lathan did not completely steal the show; but this was simply because every actor delivered their roles with such personality and energy that it would have been impossible for any one of them set the bar above the others. They all commanded the stage in their own ways.
The actors perform tremendously as individuals, but they perform even better as a group. There was so much chemistry among the characters that it was easy to forget that the play was even a performance. It felt closer to watching an actual group of friends and colleagues interacting. The characters joke around with and poke fun at each other in a way that produces constant laughs from the audience. The way all of the characters’ personalities bounce off one another is entertaining and makes the characters likeable.
Each character had his or her own quirks that contributed to the play’s unceasing humor. There is Gloria, refusing to have azaleas in her presence during a casting meeting because she fears that the attention-grabbing bright colors of the flowers will upstage her. Another character, Anna Mae (Merle Dandridge), Vera’s black roommate puts on a slinky dress and a Brazilian accent to pretend she is from Rio de Janeiro to score dates with rich directors in a racially discriminating Hollywood.
“By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” portrays not only Vera’s rise to fame, but also examines the effects of her prominence. This is done by beginning with a 1930s Hollywood setting, and later transitioning to Hollywood in 2003, as a TV show “remembers Vera Stark” by looking back at her last interview in Hollywood during the year 1973.
This allows for a combination of film and live performance, which was interesting because it brought the different decades of Hollywood together, while still making it clear that the events were occurring separately. A large, backdrop is set behind the actors and is used throughout the second act. The screen initially serves the purpose of showing a scene from Vera’s film debut. After that it is used during the portrayal of 2003 Hollywood, showing a still image as the characters “pause” Vera’s 1973 interview so that they can comment on bits and pieces of it. However, as soon as the 2003 commentators hit “play,” the interview goes on to be portrayed through live performance.
This allows a variety of perspectives, which keeps the play compelling.
A definite success, “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” is a must-see for any person interested in the political and racial dynamics of old Hollywood, or even just someone with a desire for a good laugh.
Email Davis at mdavis2@media.ucla.edu.