By the Way, Meet Vera Stark is a hilarious play loosely based off of Theresa Harris, an African American actress in the 1930s. Theresa Harris lit up the screen and stole the scene in the 1933 movie “Baby Face,” where she starred opposite Barbara Stanwyck. But in those days it was hard for African American women to make it in Hollywood. This play takes place in 1933, 1973 and 2003. The first half of the play shows Vera Stark (Sanaa Lathan) as a maid for the starlet Gloria Mitchell (Amanda Detmer.) Vera shares an apartment with two other African American women, Lottie (Kimberly Herbert Gregory) and Anna Mae (Merie Dandridge) who are also trying to figure out how to make it in Hollywood. Anna Mae is light skinned so when she gets asked out on a date by a famous director she tells him she’s Brazilian. So, as Vera is helping Gloria learn her lines for the new movie “The Belle of New Orleans” she discovers that there is a part that she herself is perfect for. And funny chaos ensues as she tries to audition for this coveted role. The second act takes place in 2003 and 1973, with the 2003 people playing back an interview of Vera and Gloria from 1973. It is a group of 3 analyst who are analyzing Veras behavior during the interview. I hate to say more about the story because I don’t wanna spoil it! It honestly is an amazing play, which is now playing at the Geffen playhouse. You will be on the floor laughing throughout the play. There is never a dull moment, the cast is absolutely fantastic. Go see it!
