C: Is for Charlayne

I am not always a fan of one person shows, but Charlayne Woodard's, warm, exquisitely written "The Night Watcher" has changed my mind. A tour de force acting piece, that has the audience failing in love with her, is a stark honest look over the decision not to be a mother but an "auntie". Some people are not meant to be mothers and Charlayne without pretense states she is not. The Children who are lucky enough to get Charlayne as confessor, advocate and friend, were blessed. They got the best of both worlds, a mother to always be there and an "Auntie" to go to when things became unbearable. Through "The Nghtwatcher" we meet 14-year old Indira who while clutching a stuffed animal confesses she is pregnant. 16-year old Benemarie, is illiterate, motherless girl who on the verge of womanhood. She is sent from Brooklyn to Florida to have her other aunt's husband come onto her and when it is found out is beaten-up. Through Nala,her terrified nephew we learn the meaning of the title of the play and how significant it is, for should we not be the watchers for those who are the most vulnerable and innocent? Though this play touches on subjects that are for the most part painful, Charlayne is a mother, to one Atticus Finch, a Maltese to whom she buys a chocolate shearling coat, while her mother is besides herself on the phone. Director Daniel Sullivan's understands the work and the aura of Charlayne and clears the way of all pretense. This is Ms Woodard's forth solo play and I would now love to see the other three. During the course of the play Charlayne's husband Harris is her rock. By the end of the play my guest turned to me and said "we should all have a Harris." My response to that is all children should have a Auntie Charlayne." You can see this insightful work at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St. until October 31st. This is a play that will move you and that is a F.A.C.T.