Celebrating “Black History Month,” Venice Theatre Works is presenting the world premiere of “Peru in Africa,” a one-woman show that takes audiences into the heart of Africa and the soul of its main character, Mary Peru.
The production, which brings together some of the best theater artists in Los Angeles, will run Feb. 6-29 at the Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd. in Santa Monica. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m. on Sundays — except the closing performance on Sunday, Feb. 29 which will be at 2 p.m.
“Peru in Africa” is by award-winning playwright Stephen Legawiec, author of 27 full-length plays, including the critically acclaimed “Red Thread,” which won the Garland Award in 2003 for Best Play of the Year.
“Peru in Africa” follows Mary Peru, an eccentric and adventurous Afro-British journalist who has experienced everything but believes in nothing. But when she decides to live with the Pygmies of the Congo, her life is changed — as is her relationship with her sister. Legawiec’s evocative prose brings to life the world of the deep African forest and the spiritual awakening of the play’s title character.
The one-act play stars Marianna Harris, whose theater credits include the Pasadena Playhouse and Los Angeles Theatre Center, and whose television credits include Pacific Blue and City of Angels.
The director is Ernest A. Figueroa, who has extensive credits throughout the country and who has served as artistic associate with the Pasadena Playhouse and has been instrumental in organizing the Lincoln Center Theater’s “Directors Lab West” in Los Angeles.
Scenic design is by Trefoni Michael Rizzi and sound design by Martín Carrillo, both of whom have extensive credits at prestigious theaters throughout the country.
The production marks the first time Venice Theatre Works is the principal producer of a show outside its resident home, the Electric Lodge in Venice.
Tickets for “Peru in Africa” are $18 for general admission; $10 for children under 14, and $15 for students, senior citizens and all guild and union members. The second and third Sundays of the run, Feb. 15 and 22, are “pay what you can” performances.
For reservations, call Venice Theatre Works at (310) 281-6299. For further information, call the Miles Playhouse at (310) 458-8634.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 23, 2004. Read the original PDF.