All the Natalie Portmans will play at the MCC Theater Space through March 29.
By Elazar Abrahams
Off-Broadway sometimes holds talent more impressive than that of the Great White Way. That’s certainly true of the new play All the Natalie Portmans. Together with a phenomenal script, a pitch-perfect cast carries the audience through two hours of intense emotions.
You’ve got to admire the name of this play. Dragging unknowing Star Wars and Black Swan fans into your theater by advertising an A-list actress despite her being a minimal part of the story is a genius move. In this story, Natalie Portman is merely the imaginary friend of 16-year-old Keyonna, an underprivileged black girl living in 2009 Washington, D.C. She dreams of making it big in Hollywood one day and turns to a fictionalized version of Portman for comfort. Kara Young plays Keyonna so beautifully. She is hyper-expressive even when not talking. Young imbues the character with confidence and sensitivity. Joshua Boone and Montego Glover play the semi-responsible older brother and alcoholic mother, respectively. Playwright C.A. Johnson gives them great material to work with. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
I was totally engrossed in the production, and the references to even the most obscure Portman films were just the cherry on top. Go see this play before it vanishes!
Find ticket information HERE.
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