'The Whoopi Monologues' Off-Broadway review — famous solo piece expands for a girl group featuring Kerry Washington, Kara Young, and more

Read our review of The Whoopi Monologues off Broadway, a reimagined version of Whoopi Goldberg's self-titled 1984 solo show now directed by Whitney White.

Summary

• The Whoopi Monologues is a reimagined version of Whoopi Goldberg's self-titled solo show now performed by five Black actresses
• Dominique Fishback is a standout among a cast that also features Kerry Washington; Kara Young; Danielle Pinnock; and Kecia Lewis
• The expansion of the show is hit-and-miss with some new elements adding little to the original script
• The show is recommended for fans of Goldberg and the original show; and of the five stage and screen stars in the cast

Can a one-woman, multi-character breakthrough Broadway show written by, named after, and performed by Whoopi Goldberg 40 years ago strike a chord today as a piece for five actresses? What’s gained and what’s lost when a solo morphs into a girl group?

The Whoopi Monologues arrives off Broadway with promise and questions. On paper, it’s an intriguing concept to have fresh voices tell old stories. But on stage, it’s a hit-and-miss experiment for a number of reasons.

For anyone who saw the original on stage or TV, the outsize shadow of Goldberg — a sly, edgy, and singular talent — looms large. Goldberg basically stood in one place, playing her characters one after another without fuss or frills. And that was plenty.

Director Whitney White’s staging leans more into action. Her cast moves around the stage more, high-fiving theatregoers, unbuttoning a jacket to reveal sexy lingerie, and getting down on a dance floor. It’s a busier take, but it's not more effective.

Another issue is that sketches can ramble, lack nuance, and feel dated, and these script weaknesses stick out more as other actresses step up. Cast members have varying degrees of success at making Goldberg's characters pop.

Two-time Tony Award winner Kara Young (Purlie Victorious, Purpose), gets things started with a gender-bending performance as Fontaine, a no-B.S. addict and thief. He motormouths his way from New York to Amsterdam, snarking about an in-flight meal (Young’s personification of a green bean is hilarious) and reckoning with true tragedy at the Anne Frank House. Commentary about immigrants and jobs comes off as tacked-on. Young is in okay form, but one-note.

Dominique Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah, Swarm) aces the assignment of playing a precocious 7-year-old who pretends her white blouse is blonde hair because she doesn’t want to be Black. The skit still hits the heart, and the theme of identity loosely connects all five sketches.

Next up, Danielle Pinnock (Ghosts) is a Jamaican souvenir saleswoman with a rich American benefactor she refers to as “the old raisin.” Pinnock is funny and uninhibited, but the vignette veers as it tries to cover too much ground: cultural gaps, stupid soap operas, world-class finger-banging, and, finally, gratitude.

Kerry Washington (American Son, Scandal), a producer on the show with her company Simpson Street, heaps on the heavy uptalk as a clueless surfer chick who ends up pregnant and homeless. The Valley Girl trope, at this point, is exhausted, but the story’s unflinching take on abortion still elicits gasps.

Hell’s Kitchen Tony winner Kecia Lewis gets the last word as Lurleen, who’s grappling with menopause but comes to accept the change in more ways than one. Lewis was still settling into the part at my performance. As Lurleen goes on (and on) about feminine hygiene, the other actresses, dressed in tangerine-toned outfits, join her to groove to “The Hustle.”

The moment is lively and fun but ultimately just pads an already overstuffed segment. It’s a reminder, like the expanded show itself, that bigger isn’t always better.

The Whoopi Monologues summary

Four decades ago, up-and-coming monologist Whoopi Goldberg premiered her star-making Broadway solo show that was later recorded for an HBO special and remounted for its 20th anniversary. In it, Goldberg created amusing, raw, and surprising character portraits of women and men of various ages. The Whoopi Monologues reimagines the solo piece for five Black actresses.

What to expect at The Whoopi Monologues

Goldberg’s voice is heard before the production begins. She extends a welcome along with a reminder about audience behavior. “We see you,” she says. It’s very Whoopi, and fitting for a work that showcases characters who deserve attention.

The monologues are performed on a bare stage before a wall with five dressing room doors. It’s a smart touch by scenic design company Studio Bent to mark the theatrical nature of the show. Tony winner Qween Jean’s costumes help define characters, and Cha See’s lighting lends dramatic textures, especially during Fontaine’s visit to the Anne Frank House.

What audiences are saying about The Whoopi Monologues

Theatregoers at early performances of The Whoopi Monologues have praised the show and the cast on Reddit and the review-aggregating app Mezzanine.

• “Each monologue was so poignant and moving and really celebrated the strength and resiliency of women.” - Reddit user u/Southernguynycii
• “I really loved having an ensemble. I think it may have become stagnant as a one woman act, and watching the rare instances of the ensemble interacting and supporting one another was beautiful to see.” - Mezzanine user Alex
• “Stacked cast for sure. The women were awesome but I do wish there was a bit more to connect all the stories.” - Mezzanine user Sam Anderman

Who should see The Whoopi Monologues

• Fans of the original version of Goldberg's show will appreciate how her diverse characters are brought to life by five actresses.
• Followers of the cast, as well as Tony-nominated director Whitney White (Liberation), will want to see them put their stamps on the material.
• Theatregoers who like works that are bold, graphic, and unflinching will want to see the various places the show goes.

Learn more about The Whoopi Monologues off Broadway

While it’s not without flaws, The Whoopi Monologues is a worthwhile evening that deserves credit for creatively rethinking a long-established piece.

Learn more about The Whoopi Monologues on New York Theatre Guide. The Whoopi Monologues is at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater through August 30.

Photo credit: The Whoopi Monologues off Broadway. (Photos by Angela Marie Orellana)