The Prairie View A&M University Charles Gilpin Players soared in their season opener, “Fabulation.”
Fabulation is the story of Undine Brooks, a self-made business owner, who falls from grace when she finds out her husband is leaving her. He embezzled all of her money, and the FBI is investigating her and her business. To top it all off, she is pregnant.
Undine finds herself reaching out to the family she has not spoken to in more than 14 years, the family that died in a fire, at least that is what she has been telling people.
Undine is now forced to move back in with her family and accept assistance from social services, while dealing with the ghosts of her Brooklyn past.
Though Summer Buckner shines as Undine, supporting characters played by Jacoby Davis, Aisha White, Sha’na Smith, and Shandranique Washington truly stole the show.
Smith and Washington opened the show as inmate 1 and inmate 2, telling the audience to silence all phones and be respectful of the theater. In this opening monologue, these characters foreshadowed how battling opposing forces would be a running theme in the story of Undine.
Davis’ portrayal of the Yoruba priest and one of the drug addicts added comedic relief to Undine’s spiraling tale. The audience was able to see all of the commitment Davis had for both eccentric roles.
White showed versatility through her four very different characters who all had larger than life personalities: Agent Duva, caseworker, Devora, and an officer. She can also be applauded for such speedy wardrobe changes.
The strength of the smaller characters says a lot about the greatness of the entire cast. Each character was just as memorable as the lead.