 |
| Vanessa Severo as Frida Kahlo in Frida… A Self Portrait (Photo: Michael Brosilow) |
An Evolution of Love
Actor/playwright Vanessa Severo once said in an interview, "I think that we need more plays about strong women, even if we have to go back in time to remember that we’ve always been this way.” True to her word, she created Frida... A Self Portrait, now playing at @ShakespeareinDC's Klein Theatre (through November 8.) This gorgeous monodrama is not only impressive, it's transcendent. That's a word I've never used in a review before (yes, I checked) but it's the least I could do to express just how amazing this performance and play are. Across an all-too-brief 75 minutes, Severo unleashes unrivaled charisma, movement and strength as she introduces Frida Kahlo's brilliance to the DMV... minus the unibrow (a work in progress.) A simple set (a few outfits stretched along a clothesline) only adds to Severo's passion and punch. Hypnotic, playful and zesty, it's hard to imagine anyone coming close to matching Ms. Severo's theatrical tornado any time soon.
Grade: A
