In Real Life at FlagShakes

On Friday October 17th Deb Harris, Nadia Luce, and Luke Giles went to see “In Real Life” at Flagshakes. It was a wonderful night of laughs, heartfelt moments, and real inspiration to stay true to yourself.

The play followed Charlayne, a young woman who moves to New York City with dreams of becoming a serious, respected actor. Like so many artists, she has a clear vision of what success looks like. But life has other plans. Instead of landing dramatic roles in prestigious plays, she gets cast in the original company of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” the hit Broadway musical.

What made this experience even more powerful is that it was a one-person show. One actor, embodying multiple characters, carrying the entire story. A one-person show is one of the most demanding things a performer can do. There’s nowhere to hide, no one to share the load with. You’re responsible for every moment, every emotion, every character.

The actress who did it is none other than Raquel McKenzie, a Jamaican-born, Chicago-raised actor in her first Equity contract with the one-woman show “In Real Life” at the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ It was amazing what she did with the characters, making them so distinct and entertaining. 

We loved this show and continue to support FlagShakes!

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