Written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK premiered in 2011 off-Broadway, with its West Coast premiere at Los Angeles’s own Geffen Playhouse in 2012, winning Lucille Lortel awards for outstanding lead actress, outstanding featured actress, outstanding director, and outstanding costume design. Theater critic Charles McNulty opined that “The giddiness of the romp isn’t easy to sustain, but her sneaky cultural critique is delivered with an ingenious wink.” The play made an appearance in Chicago in 2013 and returned off Broadway in 2019. In 2025, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK returns to Los Angeles presented by the Kentwood Players.
Denise Milfort and Flannery Maney – Photo by Gloria Ramirez Plunkett
The place is Hollywood, and the time is 1933, 1973, and 2003. There have always been lots of hopefuls hanging around Hollywood – but none quite so ill-fated as Black hopefuls during the Golden Age of Hollywood (the 1930s through the 1950s). Inspired by the life of Theresa Harris, an important star during that era, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK tells all in a time when white actors wore black face and black actors played anonymous maids and field hands. Perhaps you’re wondering why the Harris name doesn’t ring a bell. That’s because, despite the dozens of films in which she was a major player starring opposite the likes of Barbara Stanwyck, Ginger Rogers, and Bette Davis, her name never appeared when the credits rolled. She was simply that generic black maid who happened to be the white star’s helper and confidante.
Cast of BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK – Photo by Gloria Ramirez Plunkett
Like many before her, Vera Stark (Denise Milfort) came to Hollywood in the 1930s with stars in her eyes and abundant hope. But this was a time when things were different. Lana Turner might have been discovered at a local soda fountain, but Lana Turner was white – and platinum blond to boot – and Vera Stark was black. Very pretty? Yes. Obviously black? Again, yes. Billed as a screwball comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK pokes fun at the very serious subject of racism in films. Not to be deterred by Hollywood’s current unwritten rules, Vera eventually manipulates and maneuvers her way into a major role in one of the classic films of the time – playing a slave in the Deep South. But fame is fickle and fleeting, and her star explodes in the night sky only for one glorious moment.
Flannery Maney and Denise Milfort – Photo by Gloria Ramirez Plunkett
Helmed by Rondrell McCormick and produced by Rhonda Yeager-Hutchinson and Julia Sison, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK works hard to make the Black stereotype funny and farcical with varying results. Racism is a serious subject and difficult to satirize, especially in today’s race-conscious society. During the first act, the actors do a yeoman’s job of trying to tease laughter from the audience. During the second act, the tone and atmosphere shift radically, and the almost-comedy turns very serious indeed. BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is interesting and even thought-provoking. However, the key players may not resonate sufficiently with the audience to create an emotional bond. The play should appeal to Hollywood history buffs and those fascinated by the evolution of racism in Los Angeles.
Nyoka Boswell, Jazz Strong, and Daniel Tolbert – Photo by Gloria Ramirez Plunkett
BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK runs through February 8, 2025, with performances at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays (Saturday matinees will be added at 2 p.m. on 1/25/25 and continue through the rest of the run). The Kentwood Players perform at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Tickets are $25 ($4 discount for seniors, children, students, and military). For information and reservations, call 310-645-5156 or go online.
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