An excellent place to start would be the gripping production of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” that opened Sunday at the Mark Taper Forum. This new production of “Ma Rainey,” directed by Tony-winning actor Phylicia Rashad, is superior to the 2003 Broadway revival that starred Whoopi Goldberg. — Ma Rainey in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"The comedy in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” can get broad, and Rashsad, still best known for playing Bill Cosby’s wife on the “The Cosby Show,” doesn’t do much to tamp down the shticky routine of Sylvester bungling his lines take after take with his disability. Jason Dirden, left, stars in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" with Keith David, Glynn Thurman and Damon Gupton at the Mark Taper Forum. Jason Dirden, left, stars in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" with Keith David, Glynn Turman and Damon Gupton at the Mark Taper Forum.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 12, 2016 23:38 UTC