*Los Angeles, CA – What a surprise! And all I heard during intermission and going out the door were words like “awesome” and “amazing! ”
I’ve seen many plays at many different venues, but what I experienced at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles this Saturday night March 25th was astounding!!
I stood up several times in applause! Je’Caryous Johnson’s production of the play “Married But Single Too” is the seamless (even flawless) sequel to “Married But Single.”
Je’Caryous Johnson Entertainment (JJE) has put together an amazing team of talent, and struck the right balance of performance and audience interaction. I was thoroughly impressed with the presentation from wardrobe, staging & lighting to the meticulous sound settings.
The cast – Bill Bellamy, Ginuwine, La’Myia Good (who reminds me so much of my niece Shannon), Tony Grant, Skye Griffin, Lisa Raye McCoy, Chante Moore and Carl Payne – play out their characters like it’s second nature. They even encourage audience participation as when McCoy made a very matter-of-fact point about relationships, she said “Y’all can clap on that!” and the audience obliged. They also invoke current affairs as Payne (playing a pimp) says “pimp lives matter.” Watching and anticipating all the innuendos keeps the audience engaged. I was at the edge of my seat, looking around side to side, front to back and the balcony – the audience was all in!!
When Bellamy did his showcase after the opening scene, it would have been easy to think could it get any better. Well yes! And it did! Song performances by Grant, Ginuwine and Moore (didn’t know she had that vocal range like Minnie Riperton and Mariah Carey) brought the house down!! Payne, who is best known for his role on the Martin Lawrence TV show even mentioned “Big Shirley” and the audience remembered!
The Orpheum is very historical: (Sourced) [Since its February 15, 1926 opening, the Orpheum has played host to some of the most venerable names in show business – from burlesque queen Sally Rand, a young Judy Garland (as Francis Gumm) and comedian Jack Benny, to jazz greats like Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. The 1960s brought a completely new dimension to the theater – “rock and roll” – with performers such as Little Richard, Aretha Franklin and Little Stevie Wonder.
In more recent years, television, film and music video stars have added another new feature to the theater’s history – location filming. Today, the Orpheum continues to build on its entertainment industry memories and stands ready once again to welcome live performance and many other special events to its legendary stage.]
The show runs again at the Orpheum, Sunday March 26th before heading to the Cannon Center in Memphis March 31st and April 1st. There’s ample parking in all directions.
I’m glad I got a chance to meet Je’Caryous. Part of his message in the program reads:
“I pray that everyone gets a chance to experience the bliss of marriage in its totality. The reward definitely outweighs the risk!”
For further information and show times please visit www.JeCaryous.com
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