What I liked
The honesty and expressiveness of the writer-performer team, the easy shifts between characters—both performers are onstage for the entire hour and use well-chosen costume and prop elements as well as physical and vocal adjustments to achieve character transformation—Anna Deveare Smith would be proud!—and the urgency of the subject matter. When Dazia and Ayanna aren’t in a scene together, they face the audience and deliver dialogues or monologues in parallel, which really highlights the chemistry of the pair when they do get to interact and be less aware of the audience. The structure of the show was creative and versatile, including an intimidating sermon targeted at the prodigal daughter her father hopes returns home, a parody game show and my favorite, a simulated roller coaster ride that may or may not have been at a bus stop. Various monologues throughout the show could find life (or perhaps already originated) as independently performed pieces, too. Writers Carter and Dupree also included raw audio of anti-choice activists outside an abortion clinic, which fuels Carter’s subsequent monologue about the injustice of that judgment and hostility—expanding that multi-media collage approach, including interviews or other public commentary or legislative or advocacy rhetoric throughout the show (or whatever form it takes next!) could provide even more of a real world frame to contextualize the ways a personal choice is made political and even revolutionary despite how common and necessary it is for such a huge population.
What I didn't like
One of the show’s intersecting goals was clearly public education—natural resources to induce miscarriage, statistics on Black maternal mortality, pregnancy test expiration dates were printed in the program as well as delivered either directly to the audience or conversationally in scenes. In the game show scene, for example, it made for an interactive dynamic between the contestant and the audience. But in other moments the incorporation of expositional facts felt a bit clunky. I was more connected when it was folded in via character or action-oriented gestures, and fine with it being in the program as additional context, so I don’t know if both are needed.
I really enjoyed the show as presented, and I definitely hope there are more iterations of it to come.
My overall impression
A dynamic and compelling duo telling the story of two friends trying to resolve an unintended pregnancy made complicated by religion, culture, upbringing and self doubt. Jairis Carter and Mareshah Dupree present engaging character work, clever and inventive use of time jumps, physical space, lighting and audio design. You can’t help but connect with these two relatable friends(+?) tackling a lot of the big questions all at the same time. I especially appreciates the warmth and candor of the grandmother and auntie supporting Dazia and Ayanna in the face of outside pressure and judgment. So memorable, so courageous in its narrative risk-taking, and funny alongside the sad or stressful.
