A glow in the dark graffiti soaked Brooklyn apartment and street set the stage for SpeakEasy Stage Company’s production of BLKS continuing through Saturday, November 20 live and in person at Calderwood Pavilion at Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Raw, raunchy, and at times more shocking than funny, BLKS delves into one long and hazy 24-hour period for a group of 20-something city singles. Infidelity, danger, and sex are just a few of the issues addressed in this one hour and 45 minute comedy-drama by Aziza Barnes. This show has no intermission and contains mature themes, adult content and language. Click here for more information and tickets.
On the surface, BLKS tackles the life of a group of strong Brooklyn 20-something singles living together. After they all endure a tough day, they decide to party and forget their troubles. However, as the night wears on with plenty of pitfalls in the way from a broken heel to a broken heart, getting what they hope for will be far more difficult than they ever expected. Each individual faces their own insecurities and long for belonging, whether it comes to love, commitment, career, or identity. They all want to fit in where they are and yet, each person can’t shake what is missing.
Struggling comedian Imani, portrayed by Kelsey Fonise, longs to be like comedy legend Eddie Murphy and like Murphy’s standup comedy, much of the humor in BLKS is fierce, aggressive, and pulls no punches. It runs the gamut of relatable to squeamish to unabashedly funny. Thomika Marie Bridwell as level headed June seems to be climbing the corporate ladder, but is perpetually stuck in love while filmmakers Sandra Seoane-Seri as forthright Ry and Shanelle Chloe Villegas as flighty Octavia clash as they attempt to label their relationship. Bridwell has a gift for the one liner while Villegas as Octavia displays a knack for physical humor.
Kelsey Fonise in SpeakEasy Stage Company’s production of ‘Blks’ Photo courtesy of Nile Scott Studios 
Megan Hornblower and Kelsey Fonise in SpeakEasy Stage Company’s ‘BLKS’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios
Sharmarke Yusuf portrays a number of dynamic characters including seemingly sweet Justin. A climatic scene between Yusef and Villegas in an apartment display the daring lengths these two will go for a laugh. Bridwell as June and Yusef as Justin also share some charming moments.
Roommates Octavia, June, and Imani have a moment on the street and one in the apartment when they reflect on the struggles they deal with on a daily basis and this is where the production shows such potential and solid relevance. With the exception of Justin who reveals an immediate emotional center, it is a chance to get to know these characters on a deeper level, but these moments pass by too soon. It gets weighed down at times by the need for shock and comedy over substance rather than delving into these characters more closely.
Sandra Seone-Seri and Shanelle Chloe Villegas in SpeakEasy Stage’s production of ‘BLKS’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios. 
Thomika Marie Bridwell, Sharmarke Yusef, and Shanelle Chloe Villegas in SpeakEasy Stage’s production of ‘BLKS’ Photo courtesy of Nile Scott Studios.
BLKS is primarily a comedy and these roommates also share their fill of junk food, gossip, and partying in their quest to find love, success, and contentment in which they all share good chemistry. Like many 20-something singles, they find comfort facing the struggle together.
Directed by Tonasia Jones, SpeakEasy Stage Company’s continues Aziza Barnes’s production of BLKS through Saturday, November 20 at Calderwood Pavilion at Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and tickets.