Three abortions, a trail of failed relationships, and a black eye. Dolores (Davonna Dehay) is in real trouble, so she turns to her sister Sandra (DeeDee Woche) for help.
Playwright Edward Allan Baker provides a picture of working-class families and the roots of violence. It starts in childhood and continues through adulthood. Violence against animals is a premonition of violence against partners. How to push back?
Dolores and Sandra represent the consequences of psychological and physical abuse. They both suffer in silence, normalize violence, and seem to accept their misery as the only option. But there’s a limit, and Dolores shows what happens when someone is pushed into a dead-end street.
Dolores is peppered with humor, but sometimes the jokes land flat, a result of both their misplacement in the dialogue and the delivery. For the most part, however, Dehay and Woche do a great job portraying the two broken characters, especially Dehay, who has a more extensive theatrical experience. Woche is doing her theatrical debut, and this play presents a positive challenge. This is the right way to cut one’s teeth, playing roles with complex emotional layers.
Director Stephanie Feury shows her experience at the helm, highlighting the emotional charge each character is carrying, and excels in building up the tension, leading up to the surprising climax of the story. The set design also adds to the vibe of the environment, a nice touch to the staging of this play.
This is another solid production with a committed cast and a creative director that are effective in translating the grittiness of the story and the desperate need of family support to survive the cycle of domestic abuse.
Dolores
Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre
5636 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Sunday June 8 2025, 4:30 PM
Thursday June 12 2025, 7:00 PM
Monday June 16 2025, 8:30 PM
Friday June 20 2025, 7:00 PM
Monday June 23 2025, 5:30 PM
Saturday June 28 2025, 11:30 AM
Sunday June 29 2025, 2:30 PM
Tickets: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/12036?tab=tickets
Written by Edward Allan Baker. Directed by Stephanie Feury. Produced by Davonna Dehay. Co-Produced by DeeDee Woche.
Cast: Davonna Dehay and DeeDee Woche.
Creative team: Stage Manager: Spencer Frankeberger. Set Construction: Matthew Brown. Costume Design: Nora Wilde. Publicity: Bertha Rodriguez.
