Rashad Brings Down The House In 'Head of Passes'

Phylicia Rashad

By Darlene Donloe

Phylicia Rashad’s portrayal of Shelah in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Head of Passes is nothing short of a tour-de-force.

Rashad, best known as Clair Huxtable on the iconic Cosby Show, puts all of herself and none of herself in her latest role.

Head of Passes, a creative take on the story of Job, is currently enjoying a successful run at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

Rashad’s character, Shelah, a southern matriarch, is the focus. Family and friends are gathering to celebrate her birthday. It’s kind of a surprise, but, it turns out, Shelah doesn’t want a party.  The night of the soiree it is raining cats and dogs. The leaky roof of her home at the mouth of the Mississippi River is causing all kinds of havoc.

It’s not lost on anyone that the house is decaying, much like the various situations surrounding Shelah.

(l-r) James Carpenter, Jacqueline Williams and John Earl Jelks 

Shelah is dying, but she refuses to get treatment from Dr. Anderson (James Carpenter). She’s going to use the party to tell her children about her diagnosis.

Francois Battiste and Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad and J. Bernard Calloway

One by one we’re introduced to a cast of characters that include her two sons, Aubrey (Francois Battiste) and Spencer (J. Bernard Calloway) and her deceased husband’s estranged daughter, Cookie (Alana Arenas) who has some personal problems. She arrives at the birthday party as a surprise guest but soon reveals that she’s really there for the money. Both Aubrey and Spencer are suspicious of Cookie’s motives. Shelah’s servants Crier (Kyle Beltran) and his father, Creaker (John Earl Jelks), along with her friend, Aunt Mae (Jacqueline Williams), round out the collective.

Kyle Beltran and John Earl Jelks

What was supposed to be a joyous occasion – slowly becomes one of the worst nights Shelah could ever have imagined.  A woman of great faith, she seeks refuge in God, praying incessantly for the almighty to make everything right again. Nothing can shake her faith, or can it?

Act Two is strictly a Phylicia Rashad affair. Her monologue is commanding and luminous. Rashad holds court like only a seasoned, well-trained thespian can. It’s during this time that Shelah challenges and petitions God to turn back the clock. It’s an emotional and sometimes comical plea, but it’s a plea nonetheless.

Director Tina Landau has assembled a worthy cast. Each has their moment to shine – and they do – with bells on. There is no weak link in this ensemble.

Jelks, Beltran, Williams and Calloway occasionally bring the funny, which is a welcomed respite from the drama. Williams has a small, but hilarious moment when she retrieves her purse from a chair after she realizes Cookie is in the house.

Alana Arenas and Phylicia Rashad

Holding her own with Rashad is Alana Arenas, a breath of fresh air in her portrayal of a girl/woman that Shelah’s now deceased husband had brought home for her to raise. Arenas’ Cookie is a streetwise woman with two kids and another on the way. The verbal sparring between Cookie and Shelah is riveting. In a vibrant conversation with Shelah, she reveals a secret she has kept hidden for years.  The secret explains much about her behavior and her reluctance to come back to live in Shelah’s house. Arenas knocks it out of the park.

The set is a cast member. It shines throughout both the first and second acts. There is a moment in the show when the term, “bring down the house” takes on a whole new meaning. In fact, it’s literal and it’s a showstopper. Kudos to G. W. Mercier for the dazzling set design.  Two thumbs up to Toni-Leslie James for the costume design, Jeff Croiter for lighting design, Robert-Charles Vallance for wig and hair design and to Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen for sound design.

The play is draining. It’s a rough ride. It’s an emotional journey that is hard, uncomfortable and gut-wrenching, but it’s worth it.

Head of Passes is a theatrical ace.

Head of Passes, written by Tarell Alvin McCraney and directed by Tina Landau, stars Phylicia Rashad, Alana Arenas, James Carpenter, John Earl Jelks, Francois Battiste, Kyle Beltran, J. Bernard Calloway and Jacqueline Williams.

Head of Passes, Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, 8 p.m., Tues.-Fri.; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Sat.; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sun. through Oct. 22; no Monday performances; $25-$95; CenterTheatreGroup.org or 213 628-2772.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent) Head of Passes gets an E (excellent).

*All Photos by Craig Schwartz.