Hot and Ready
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Jeffers
Photo by WAITING ON THE NAME
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By Mary E. Montoro
Is it hot all here or is it the dynamic, potent, sexual energy of actresses Juliette Jeffers and Vanessa Williams making it sizzle? The NAACP Image Award nominee and recipient, respectively, have combined their artistic efforts in acting, writing, and producing individual one-woman shows. In this case, Looking 4 a Chocolate Match.com is presented by Jeffers, and Feet On The Ceiling is delivered by Williams. The mood jumps off with Billy Stewart’s 1965 soul classic "I Do Love You,"and it is followed by Marvin Gaye’s "Sexual Healing." Whitney (pre-Bobby Brown-chaos) Houston delivers a moving "You Give Good Love." The selection of music sets off the perfect aphrodisiac enticement before Jeffers utters a word.
To start, Jeffers sits at her desk punching away at her keyboard posting her online profile for a dating service. She quickly goes down the typical list of questions and halts when asked about her body type. She bypasses the question how much she makes and for her age furiously types ‘I’m 30 whatever.' Like many others looking for love, she goes by a pseudonym, Carolina. In time, Carolina gets 110 hits. Not too bad. It’s hard to believe that Jeffers would consider going online to find romance. She graces the stage wearing a burnt orange V-neck lace blouse, black slacks, a chunky necklace adorning her caramel smooth skin, and her impeccable braids stay atop her head. Her ribald humor and sensual demeanor represents the embodiment of a luscious queen. She confidently interacts with the audience when pleading her case about the pitfalls of Internet dating. A lot of women in the seats responded “Amen,” sympathizing and probably relating to Jeffer’s plight. She breaks the men down into several categories. Of course there are many more, but this is an hour-long show so she just hits the high points.
The list begins with an in-the-closet, poetic chocolate match. This is the man who takes credit for lyrics to contemporary songs and recites them in an over-dramatic flair. He’s a better fit than the grammatically challenged chocolate match who is still a better catch than the stalking chocolate match who refuses to accept that it’s never gong to happen for him and Jeffers.
The rude, hit-and-run chocolate match is the man who lost Jeffers on purpose when he led the way to their destination. Then there’s the guy with Tourette’s syndrome and lastly the one with constant baby mama drama. Jeffers is relentless in showing how the matches result in men acting like immature toads, nowhere in the vicinity of being her Chocolate Prince Charming Match. Still the in spite of the madness, she keeps on looking. It's entertaining watching her tales of woe that stand as a warning to other women.
Vanessa Williams follows Jeffers with a more risqué and tantalizing story. The former Soul Food and Melrose Place actress comes on with the 1975 Earth, Wind & Fire classic "Reasons." Her fabulous smile and infectious attitude illuminate the audience. As she changes quickly out of her yellow print dress into more casual wear, Williams begins her story reviving a flesh-hungry memory at age 15 when she had her eye on Julio, the neighborhood Puerto Rican boy. Her intensity reaches a climax as she recalls their hot and heavy make-out sessions in her building. While getting fondled for the first of many times, oh, the memories. Ahh, the good old days while enjoying the feel of a masculine hand appreciating an innocent--but not for long--body. She yells out confidently, “I am woman: strong, powerful and sexual.” Following that in a sedate voice, “Even though I didn’t have a clue.” Seriously, did any of us? From then on, Williams realized her power as a woman. Williams admits that she got her advice from the scriptures in the Bible and Essence magazine. She recalled how Julio’s touch was ‘rising out of me like a rainbow.” Maintaining her feminity while stressing her power, Williams strolls off to "Reasons" again, taking her newly acquired knowledge from Julio, putting it to wonderful future use. Whatta woman!
May 30th to June 7th
Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Tickets available by calling ((323) 960-7721 or in person at the Elephant
Theatre box office or online at www.plays411.com/lillianshow Tickets are $20. The Elephant Theatre is located at 6322 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA (between Santa Monica Blvd. and Lillian Way), Hollywood.
Written and Produced by Juliette Jeffers and Vanessa Williams. Directed by Denise Yvonne Dowse.
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