By Christina Perryman
In 1905, life is not easy for many people. For Esther Mills, a colored seamstress living in a woman’s boarding house, it is especially difficult. Esther is the heart of Lynn Nottage’s thought provoking play, “Intimate Apparel,” now on stage at Arden Theatre under the excellent direction of Amina Robinson. “Intimate Apparel” is a thought provoking, inspiring and occasionally humorous piece with themes everyone can relate to.
Brandi Porter (Esther) in Arden Theatre Company’s 2024 production of “Intimate
Apparel”. Photo By Ashley Smith, Wide Eyed Studios.
Through Esther’s eyes, the audience experiences her struggles, hopes and dreams. After Esther is orphaned, she makes her way from North Carolina to New York City, taking odd jobs along the way. Once in New York, Esther finds the thing she was born to do – sew. Working as a seamstress for both affluent socialites and ladies of the night, Esther creates magnificent pieces that allow her to amass a hefty savings. She plans to use her savings to one day open a beauty salon for black women.
Esther has a lovely friendship with Mr. Marks, who owns the fabric store where Esther gets all her materials. Clearly the duo has feelings for each other, however Mr. Marks is betrothed to a woman in his homeland. Despite her closeness with Mrs. Dickson (who runs the boarding house), Mrs. Van Buren (Esther’s wealthy client) and Mayme (prostitute and aspiring singer), Esther is lonely. She begins a correspondence with George Armstrong, a Caribbean laborer who is helping to dig the Panama Canal. Esther, who is illiterate, enlists the help of Mrs. Van Buren and Mayme in responding to George’s letters. After a while, and a strong warning from Mrs. Dickson, Esther agrees to marry George. They two tie the knot on the day George arrives in New York, however, Esther quickly learns the man George was in his letters and the man he is, are two vastly different people. After George absconds with Esther’s savings, she is left to rebuild her life.
Jessica Johnson (Mayme) and Brandi Porter (Esther) in Arden’s “Intimate Apparel”.
Photo By Ashley Smith, Wide Eyed Studios
Brandi Porter is the anchor of the show as Esther. From the moment she appears on stage, Porter expresses Esther’s loneliness and longing. Porter’s nuanced performance also shows Esther’s compassion, humility and resilience. Akeem Davis, as both hero and villain, has a tough job, one which he navigates flawlessly. As Caribbean George, he is charming and engaging. As New York George he is bitter, angry and manipulative. Zuhairah’s Mrs. Dickson is a perfect mother figure for Esther. When Zuhairah told the story of Mrs. Dickson’s mother, it was very moving. Jessica Johnson is exuberant as Mayme. She is fun to watch and has a beautiful singing voice. Juliana Zinkel does a nice job of expressing Mrs. Van Buren’s underlying unhappiness and uneasiness with her life. David Pica was wonderful as gentle Mr. Marks. He has great chemistry with Porter.
The intimate Arcadia stage is the perfect setting for this glimpse into early 1900s life. The stage, designed by Andrew Cohen, has many layers. The beautiful beige silk that serves as the backdrop of the set lends a touch of elegance and luxury to the stage. Costumes by Leigh Paradise are perfect for the period and embody each character’s social status. The corsets are intricate and beautifully designed.
If You Go:
“Intimate Apparel” runs at Arden Theatre, 40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, through Dec. 8. The show runs 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. During the run of the show, Arden is collecting new and unopened undergarments for men and women of all sizes. The donation box is in the main lobby of the theater.
There will be post-show talkbacks following the 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 20 show and the 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 show.
For tickets and complete information, visit ardentheatre.org or call 215-922-1122.