A magical coming of age drama designed for children delights adults as well.
Playwright June Carryl’s storytelling magic is on wondrous display in “The Girl Who Made the Milky Way,” now finishing its world premier run at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. Based on a folktale about the Khosian, an ancient ethic group, believed to be the oldest human inhabitants of southern Africa, the play follows a young African girl struggling to find her place in the world.
As the play unfolds, we follow Little Sister (played by Stakiah Lynn Washington), who grows into her full self, aided by figures in the form of animals, trees, mountains, and spirits (Jamela Asha, Edward Hong, Max Lawrence, Makha Mthembu, and Carter Michael ). With their help, she traverses the fearsome African savanna to find her missing father, guided by the starlit night sky and the Milky Way she creates.
Makha Mthembu, Edward Hong, Stakiah Lynn Washington and Carter Michael (Photo courtesy of Imagine Theatre)June Carryl has said she specifically set out to write a play for young Black audiences. “We have to start biringing diverse voices into the mainstream. And a way to so, is to do it myself,” she said. “The whole thing of working with kids really does kind of save your soul. The chance to do it again as a playwright? It’s heaven.”
The small army of young kids in the audience the night we attended were clearly enraptured by the unfolding story, as were the few adults sprinkled among them. The scene, the costumes, and the lighting were almost characters in their own right, adding greatly to the joyful experience. Tom Buderwitz designed the set, Dianne K. Graebner created the costumes, and Gavan Wyrick designed the lighting. Altogether, although designed for children, “The Girl...” is a delight for adults as well.
Imagine Theatre artistic director Armina LaManna directed the play and commissioned June Carryl to write it.
Stakiah Lynn Washington and Max Lawrence (Photo courtesy of Imagine Theatre)This play couldn’t be different from the first time we encountered actor, director, and playwright June Carryl’s work last year. Her “Blue,” playing then at the Rogue Machine Theatre on Melrose, pitted two LAPD detectives, one a white male officer who had just gunned down an unarmed Black motorist, and the other a Black female inspector, who grills him to a fine turn in a police department’s suffocating interrogation room. That gripping, ripped-from-the-headlines was such a favorite of ours that we saw it twice, pulling along family members the second time.
“The Girl Who Made the Milky Way” will have a final performance at The Colony Theatre on Sunday, November 17 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for kids ages 5 to 12 (children under 5 not admitted). For tickets and more information, call 818.649.9474 or go to imaginetheatreca.org.
There are also student matinee performances for school trips through Novemberr 22. Interested educators should email smart@imaginetheatreca.org.
