Healing Fractures A Show with Hope Heart and Soul

Healing Fractures: A One Woman Show With Music, is a musical based on the life of Monica Meaux Hope. Now playing at the Winterfest as part of their festival, this is a show not to miss.

Ms. Hope has a God given voice that wraps you in its powerful emotional vortex, as it tells you of the pain, hope and redemption that has shaped her journey. This is a instrument that makes gospel soar and disco rock out.

Ms. Hope’s life’s journey has not been an easy one. Her father was jazz pianist Elmo Hope, a close friend to Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. He died when Monica was young from complications of heroin. Raised by a religious grandmother, Monica’s was told jazz was the devil’s workshop. She was beat, when her cousin tried to teach her the piano, from the lessons he was freely given. Her sadistic uncle, beat her just because she was not his.

Through monologue and song, we hear how a creative young girl turned to drugs, but was saved by the church, music and a spirit that refused to be oppressed. In the end Monica encourages herself to be fearless and challenges herself to look inward, to heal her soul and find joy. She does the same for her audiences.

Ms. Hope’s glorious voice has lead her to perform at Minton’s Harlem, Rockwood Music Hall, Cornelia Street Café, The Cutting Room, The Bitter End and more. Her songwriting cuts to the core of the issues at hand. She connects to her audience and they to her.

Like most shows in festivals there are some glitches. The lighting by Valerie Donaldson is badly done and a lot of the time Ms. Hope is not well lit. The show’s direction also by Ms. Donaldson and the script (Ms. Hope) needs to be tighter. In a one-women show you need to stick to, at the most 2 costume changes. The band and music however was flawless with Niles Webster, Pianist and Musical Director, Lizz ‘Double-z’ Chisholm on Bass, Tony Allen, on Drums, Kelvyn Bell on Guitar

Healing Fractures: A One Woman Show With Music, is moving and I found myself leaving with my own sense of renewed hope.

Healing Fractures: A One Woman Show With Music: Winterfest; Hudson Theatre Guild, 441 West 26^th St. Jan. 12^th, Jan. 14^th @1pm and Jan. 15^th at 6pm.