St. Louis Stage Capsules

Dennis Brown and Paul Friswold suss out the local theater scene

A A A Comments By Dennis Brown and Paul Friswold Thursday, May 12 2011

Stewart Goldstein

Shanara Gabrielle (Susannah Mullally) and DeniseThimes (Pearl Johnson) in Black Pearl Sings!

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Black Pearl Sings! Out of the legend of Huddie Ledbetter, better known to the world as Lead Belly, comes this two-character play with a cappella music — and lots of it. Here Lead Belly has switched genders. Alberta "Pearl" Johnson (Denise Thimes) is a prisoner in a southern prison who is discovered by Susanna Mulally (Shanara Gabrielle). The play is a seesaw battle for control between these two in a world where nothing is quite as it seems — except this: Denise Thimes is a force to be reckoned with. The rapport between Thimes and her audience is palpable. Performed by the Black Rep through May 15 at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. Tickets are $17 to $47. Call 314-534-3810 or visit www.theblackrep.org. — Dennis Brown

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