Renegade's "Waiting to Dance" is a complex, edgy discovery
by W. Fred Crow
Renegade Theatre Experiment's latest offering, "Waiting to
Dance," remains faithful to the house intention of providing
thought-provoking, intelligent, and edgy material for audience
consumption. Written by local playwright Erica Hemenway,
"Waiting..." is simple in presentation, simple in design, and
simple in performance, but is wonderfully complex in context.
"Waiting..." is an affair of the heart. Not a romantic
affair, but one of self discovery, denial and acceptance. It's
a walk into one's own mind. The set is cavernous with
stagefront seating for five. A dark foreboding overtone
shadows the actors as they come forward, one by one, to face
the audience. Five women in casual sequence introduce
themselves. Each has a singularly profound experience, and
each experience defines who they are.
Director Whitney Quinn Stebbins holds a modest rein on the
talents of the cast over which lay the emotional angst of
personal exploration and exposure. Brought before us one by
one, each gal is confused as to where she finds herself and
why she is there. Once together, the introspective discourse
requires each to face not just the events that brought them
where they are, but face to face with the basic nature of who
they are. As the characters in turn probe their own beliefs of
right and wrong, they render themselves vulnerable to
themselves, each other, and to the audience. Where they are
and who they are, are thematic to the play.
"Waiting to Dance" is a smart play that demands attention
to the dialog. You will find easy targets for argument or
safety in agreement. You may find yourself touched and
sympathetic, or repulsed and appalled, but you will not find
yourself indifferent. The characters are strongly written and
strongly played.
Ogidi Obi plays the narrator of self-proclaimed "no
importance," to either the women or the story. The ensemble's
collected talent, so strongly enjoined together, comprises
Jaime Wolf, Beverley Griffith, Gloria Belle Whaley, Kendra
Owens and Misty Day. These gals work together seamlessly.
"Waiting to Dance," on its world premiere, will not please
everyone. I don't believe that's the intention of author
Hemenway. But, being a strong, provocative and intelligent
show, it will find an audience.
Renegade Theatre Experiment's "Waiting to Dance" runs
through Feb. 18. The production is located at the Hoover
Historic Theatre, 1635 Park Ave., San Jose. For box office
information, call 351-4440.
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W. Fred Crow is a local music director and frequent
attendee of the arts. Contact him at wfredcrow@yahoo.com. | 
