Her piece follows a vintage conversational-confessional format. Under Scotch Ellis Loring's direction, Coles relates how her middle-class Brooklyn upbringing and grade-school gravitas turned into class-clown supremacy and high school popularity, the recalled "Roots" mash-up itself worth the show. From there, it's a trek to stand-up comedy, plus-size modeling, and, after termination following "In Living Color" 's first season—"Competitive. There are 15 million Wayanses"—full-fledged stardom.
The conversational aspects carry priceless zeal, great anecdotes, and Coles' natural spontaneity. These take her through the confessional elements, where things thin out. Her examples of career decline, economic woes, and clinical depression are typically honest, also somewhat hasty and parsimonious. Coles could dig even deeper, given her keen insights on being an African-American woman in Hollywood. Nonetheless, fans will eat it up and still want more.
Self-presented as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival at the Renberg Theatre at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood. June 14–23. Remaining performances: Thu., June 21, 8 p.m.; Sat., June 23, 8 p.m. (323) 455-4585 or www.hollywoodfringe.org.
