Barbie Smith: God's Favorite Tease

What I liked

The writing, direction, and physicality were brilliant and moving.

What I didn't like

Nothing.

My overall impression

Nambimadom’s performance as Barbie Smith deftly explored the (cheeky!) contradictions of white Christian femininity. Nambimadom dazzled as Barbie Smith, a pent up, widowed abstinence educator whose paeans against premarital sex thinly disguise a well of grief and angst against patriarchical submission. It’s this dance that Nambimadom excels in — both literally, in her smart physicality on the stage — and as metaphor, aided by Kablawi’s direction, sharing the audience in on the messy erotics of grief. Barbie’s confession (again, metaphorically, but also on occasion, literally) becomes an opportunity for the audience’s salvation. A must see!