Audience members leaving a San Diego Repertory Theatre performance of "Three Mo' Divas," are likely to have two questions in mind: Who were those amazing female singers and why are they not nationally known?

That is just the point creator Marion J. Caffey is trying to make in this two-hour "celebration of the African-American diva voice." "In the history of the opera world, African-Americans have been, for the most part, denied their rightful place by most opera companies," Caffey wrote when describing the motivation behind this world premiere. "Today seems to be no different, with the exception of a lucky and gifted few."

Those attending "Three Mo' Divas" are the lucky ones, getting to hear three truly gifted singers who perform 27 numbers covering 400 years and seven types of music -- opera, Broadway, jazz, blues, soul, spiritual and gospel. Supported by six musicians and a local gospel choir, the program is so vocally demanding that two sets of three divas alternate nights.

Saturday night's divas were Henrietta Davis, Jamet Pittman and N'Kenge . All classically trained, they opened Act I with selections from seven operas, including "La Boheme," "Tosca," and "Romeo and Juliet." (The opera selections are matched to the divas' voices and the alternate cast of Hope Briggs, Janinah Burnett and Vivian Reed perform different songs.) Moving on to the Broadway and jazz portions, Pittman shines with "Your Daddy's Son" from "Ragtime," Davis excels with "My Man's Gone Now" from "Porgy & Bess" and Simpson-Hall closes the first act on a high note with a Cab Callaway's "Minnie the Moocher."

Driving home the message of how African American performers have been denied their due, Davis and Pittman team up for a beautifully haunting rendition of "Strange Fruit/Lament," while Davis puts all of herself into the spiritual "The Trouble I've Seen," leaving both herself and her audience drained.

After those highlights, Act II winds down with a six-song medley to soul songs, a stirring, choir-backed "America the Beautiful" and three gospel songs.

"Three Mo' Divas" is Caffey's follow up to his successful "Three Mo' Tenors." He also wrote and directed the critically acclaimed "Cookin' at the Cookery: The Music and Times of Alberta Hunter," which was staged last season at the San Diego REP.

With "Three Mo' Divas," Caffey and the San Diego REP have another hit, one that both entertains and reminds us all that excellence in all forms and colors should be embraced and not pre-judged.

Performances in the REP's 56-seat Lyceum Stage at Horton Plaza will run through April 18. Show times are at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Single tickets range from $25.50 to $42.50 with various discounts available (including a 50 percent discount if you wish to return to hear the alternate divas perform). Call (619) 544-1000 or go online at www.sandiegorep.com.

<< BACK TO PRESS ROOM