White at The Off-Central follows Gus, an artist who is denied inclusion in an exhibition not because of his merit, but because of the optics. He’s a white man. He tries to find loopholes, but it doesn’t go as planned.
Photo courtesy of The Off-Central
White at The Off-Central is the middle offering in a trio of plays exploring value and worth through a visual arts vehicle. In all three plays (Bakersfield Mist, White, and Art), there is a central piece of art, and the characters wrestle with how the identity of the painter impacts the perception of the work — and where authenticity enters the chat. In White, “identity” goes much deeper than name recognition or fame. It asks if value — and merit… belonging, even — is inextricably linked to race, gender, and/or sexuality.
As a great piece of theatre should, it doesn’t prescribe answers. Nor are the characters a binary of good or bad, right or wrong. But as an audience member, you will feel yourself pulled to a “side” — and you’ll have some discomfort to work through in order to reconcile for yourself what aligning with that side means.
Oh, did I mention it’s also hilarious?
White at The Off-Central
Playwright James Ijames is a generational talent. His plays center curiosity and joy while tackling monster issues. He seamlessly marries realism with absurdism and surrealism. He converges theatre with music and dance as his characters journey towards personal freedom. His work is of a specific lived experience, for a specific lived experience — inviting everyone to the party regardless of lived experience.
The brand-new curator at the Parnell Museum is Jane, one of Gus’ old friends. Jane is ready to move past a “perspective that is decidedly homogenous.”
Photo courtesy of The Off-Central
The Off-Central’s production is outstanding. Set designer Alan Mohney, Jr.’s turned the black box into a white box peppered with suggestive and evocative scenic elements allowing for a seamless flow of time, space, and reality. It serves as a literal blank canvas for Thad Engle’s impressive light design — in particular, an ending sequence which blurs the lines of reality and fantasy. A vibing and poignant sound design escorts us through this 90-minute one-act, which, incredibly, is based on a true story.
We follow Gus, a relentless artist played with ferocity and earnestness by Weston Allen Kemp. He is denied inclusion in an exhibition at the prestigious Parnell Museum, even though the brand-new curator, Jane (a delightful Jennifer Casler), is an old friend of his. Gus is not welcome, not on merit, but on optics. He’s a white male, and Jane is ready to move past a “perspective that is decidedly homogenous.”
[Read more below]Arts All Around!The Gabber Newspaper covers live theater and art across South Pinellas. And, when we find something worth the drive, we cover art in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota areas. 
Gus hatches an idea: what if Tanner’s friend Vanessa, an aspiring actress, pretended to be the artist responsible for his work? Would it get included if the demographics were “right?”
Photo courtesy of The Off-Central
While venting to his partner (as Gus reminded Jane, “I’m gay! Doesn’t that count for anything?”) Tanner (a striking and effortlessly funny Keith Batchelor), Gus hatches an idea: what if Tanner’s friend Vanessa, an aspiring actress, pretended to be the artist responsible for his work? Would it get included if the demographics were “right?”
Gus’ attempt to make a point doesn’t go as planned as Vanessa’s alter ego Balkonaé evolves dreams of her own. Caron Davis, who plays Vanessa, Balkonaé, and Gus’ hallucination Saint Diana (Ross): Patron Saint of Wayward Gay Men, is stunning and fearless, deftly navigating these disparate manifestations.
Director Travis Ray is making a formidable mainstage directorial debut with this tight, thoughtful, and nuanced production, which is impeccably balanced and riveting. In the intimate 43-seat theatre off Central Avenue, there is very fine theatre ready to entertain, provoke, and inspire.
See White at The Off-Central
The Off-Central, 2260 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Through Oct. 19. Weds.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 5 p.m.; and Sun., 3 p.m. $16-36. theoffcentral.com, 727-202-7019.
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