![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/01white_off-central_10162025-e1760381139306.jpg\")
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\u2019s a white man. He tries to find loopholes, but it doesn\u2019t go as planned.
Photo courtesy of The Off-Central<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 and where authenticity enters the chat. In White, \u201cidentity\u201d goes much deeper than name recognition or fame. It asks if value \u2014 and merit\u2026 belonging, even \u2014 is inextricably linked to race, gender, and\/or sexuality.<\/p>\n
As a great piece of theatre should, it doesn\u2019t 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 \u201cside\u201d \u2014 and you\u2019ll have some discomfort to work through in order to reconcile for yourself what aligning with that side means.<\/p>\n
Oh, did I mention it\u2019s also hilarious?<\/p>\n
White at The Off-Central<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 inviting everyone to the party regardless of lived experience.<\/p>\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/03White_off-central_10162025-e1760381379281.jpg\")
The brand-new curator at the Parnell Museum is Jane, one of Gus\u2019 old friends. Jane is ready to move past a \u201cperspective that is decidedly homogenous.\u201d
Photo courtesy of The Off-Central<\/p>\n
The Off-Central\u2019s production is outstanding. Set designer Alan Mohney, Jr.\u2019s 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\u2019s impressive light design \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s a white male, and Jane is ready to move past a \u201cperspective that is decidedly homogenous.\u201d<\/p>\n
[Read more below]Arts<\/a> All Around!The Gabber Newspaper covers live theater and art<\/a> across South Pinellas. And, when we find something worth the drive, we cover art in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota areas. While venting to his partner (as Gus reminded Jane, \u201cI\u2019m gay! Doesn\u2019t that count for anything?\u201d) Tanner (a striking and effortlessly funny Keith Batchelor), Gus hatches an idea: what if Tanner\u2019s friend Vanessa, an aspiring actress, pretended to be the artist responsible for his work? Would it get included if the demographics were \u201cright?\u201d<\/p>\n Gus\u2019 attempt to make a point doesn\u2019t go as planned as Vanessa\u2019s alter ego Balkona\u00e9 evolves dreams of her own. Caron Davis, who plays Vanessa, Balkona\u00e9, and Gus\u2019 hallucination Saint Diana (Ross): Patron Saint of Wayward Gay Men, is stunning and fearless, deftly navigating these disparate manifestations.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n See White\u00a0at The Off-Central<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, 727-202-7019<\/a>.<\/p>\n We\u2019re the calm during the storm. No hype, only help!<\/p>\n Bookmark The Gabber Newspaper\u2018s storm coverage<\/a> page for quick access to relevant tropical storm updates. No hype, no guessing, just updates on shelters, sandbags, and closures. Sign up for text alerts<\/a> to get real-time guidance and prep advice when there\u2019s a named storm heading our way. Also, check out our downtown Gulfport and beach web cams<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/02White_off-central_10162025-e1760381473824.jpg\")
Gus hatches an idea: what if Tanner\u2019s friend Vanessa, an aspiring actress, pretended to be the artist responsible for his work? Would it get included if the demographics were \u201cright?\u201d
Photo courtesy of The Off-Central<\/p>\n