The Geffen Playhouse once again dazzled audiences with its latest show, “Black Cypress Bayou.” This powerful play transports theatergoers to the depths of Deep East Texas amidst the Covid pandemic, where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur, illuminating the significance of familial bonds and ancestral roots.

Set on a sweltering summer evening in Texas, Vernita Manifold (Kimberly Scott) beckons her daughter LadyBird Manifold (Brandee Evans) to unravel a concealed secret nestled within a laundry basket. Under the deft direction of Tiffany Nichole Greene, the stage metamorphoses into the eerie and enigmatic Black Cypress Bayou, a realm veiled in mystery and dripping with Southern charm.

From the moment the curtains rise, the audience is ensnared in a web of intrigue spun by an outstanding ensemble cast. Their performances, marked by emotional depth and impeccable comedic timing, breathe life into the intricacies of familial ties amid the backdrop of a pandemic-stricken world, eliciting laughter as we reminisce on bygone days of social distancing and relentless hand sanitizing protocols.

With each whispered revelation and haunted gaze, the cast entices us deeper into the murky depths of the bayou, where secrets lurk within the confines of a modest laundry basket, and shadows sway to the rhythm of the night. Meanwhile, shrouded within a linen cloth rests the decapitated head of Clayton Rutherford, once the epitome of affluence in East Texas. The circumstances surrounding this grim occurrence remain an unsolved mystery, compelling all three family members to seek answers while navigating the treacherous waters of potential incrimination.

Lawrence E. Moten III’s masterful set design adds to the sense of unease, submerging the audience into the clandestine heart of the bayou’s most enigmatic secrets. But it’s Kristen Adele Calhoun’s masterful script that truly distinguishes the production, weaving a narrative that is both chilling and poignant. Each twist and turn of the plot is meticulously crafted, ensnaring the audience’s attention until the haunting denouement. “Black Cypress Bayou” emerges as a masterpiece of ambiance and introspection, delving into the intricacies of the human psyche and the shadows that linger within.

— Rosane Grimberg

Black Cypress Bayou runs through March 17th at the Geffen Playhouse. Tickets HERE