by Marcus Kaye-

When she first took the stage, I had a hard time believing that the bubbly personality that was Jasmynne Shaye was capable of being anything else. However, in the same way Gabourey Sidibe was able to shed her giggly disposition to portray the downtrodden Precious in last year’s best picture nominee, Shaye had no trouble discarding her own charm, to present some less-than-charming material. The two talents are more than comparable. In her almost one-woman show, Stepping on a Few Toes, Shaye tells the story of her troubled upbringing with her mother, her attempts to take (and eventually reclaim) her own life, and most effectively, the power of forgiveness.

Shaye’s harrowing narrative of despair is punctuated by dance pieces, which enable her to lose herself. Dance, having been her solace throughout childhood and beyond, is equally a character in her show, as are the 12 different friends and family members she portrays. They enable Shaye to portray through movement and emotion what she might be unable to get across in the book of the play. Shaye’s dance solos, wonderfully choreographed by Kenya Williams, are skilled pieces, but could have been integrated more smoothly into the play.

Shaye takes on a variety of personalities that affected her life in both positives and negative ways. From her abusive mother to her church preacher, Shaye captures them all. Her characters are identified by the costumes she pulls out of a series of closets on the stage. The costumes are the most telling aspect of each character, as Shaye’s voice and body language did little to differentiate one character from the next. Fortunately, the writing of Stepping on a Few Toes gives Shaye plenty to work with and helps dictate the character as well.

The writing is powerful, but it’s Shaye’s quiet moments as herself that hit the hardest. Shaye shines brightest in the darkest moments. The time she spent cutting herself in high school is especially troubling and brilliantly acted. The bandages on her arms for the remainder of the show serve as a haunting reminder of how far she has come. Equally as moving is Stepping on a Few Toes‘ triumphant conclusion. It isn’t until the end that you realize you’ve been with her the whole time. It’s the kind of play that sneaks up on you. Her resolution becomes your own and you will be moved.

Shaye’s narrative is directed to her mother, who could very well be the source of her problems. This proves to be slightly alienating, as Shaye continues to address a corner where her “mother” is to be. The end result, however, is all the more powerful because of it.

Director Jaimyon Parker’s vision for the sets and lighting (also Parker’s design) help separate the stage into the different locations Shaye called home. Four closest. Four homes. Each closet is full of the costumes that Shaye will need to tell that part of the story. There is no hiding her transformation from character to character, which works much better than if she was constantly running to change. Parker’s direction is simple, but effective.

Stepping on a Few Toes plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM. through Sunday, October 3, 2010.

The NoHo Stages are located at 4934 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood.

Ticket prices: $15.00 for General Admission, except for Gala Nights, Saturday, September 18 and Friday, September 24 which are $25. Gala Nights include a question and answer session with Shaye, a wine and cheese reception and giveaways.

Reservations can be made online at www.steppingontoes.com, by phone at 323-347-8554, or at the box office.