THE PLAY “CROWNS: PORTRAIT OF BLACK WOMEN IN CHURCH HATS” GETS GREAT REVIEW IN KANSAS CITY

Derek Donovan, of The Kansas City Star, said this about the play: “The Unicorn’s “Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats” is an ideal combination of the perfect cast and the right material. The show’s 90 minutes of gospel and glee breeze right by, almost too quickly.

In this age of predominantly personal and introspective plays, many audiences forget that all major theatrical traditions trace their roots directly to spirituality and worship. Modern productions of the Greek tragedies rarely have any idea what to do with the soaring poetry or the chant-like exultations of the chorus.

But the current remounting of “Crowns” at the Gem Theater fully captures that essence and transports it to the world of traditional spirituals. Regina Taylor’s play, based on the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry, isn’t so much a story as a series of paintings in monologue and song about Southern black church culture: A “Spoon River Anthology” for the “I Got Shoes” set.

The bonnets become a metaphor for the ritualized ceremony of dressing up for church — a nicety that’s on the wane in today’s world of come-as-you-are dress codes. They also recall the African headdresses of the attendees’ ancestors, and their ornamental formality forms a tight common bond in the congregations.

Part memoir, part stand-up comedy and part revival, “Crowns” works on several levels. It’s one of the few shows that achieve a genuine sense of joyousness for cast and audience.”

The show runs through April 21 at the Gem Theater (816) 235-6222.