The Ensemble Theatre’s ‘Flex’: Funny, Emotional, Powerful, Triumphant

HOUSTON, TX -- Back in the early days of the Women’s National Basketball Association, or WNBA, the Houston Comets were a team that took shape in 1997. Its stars, Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes were celebrated as women’s basketball royalty, winning four consecutive championships (1997-2000) in their first four years as a franchise. It was an amazing feat of sportsmanship for the times, and rivals the current WNBA excitement with the young phenoms saving the previously floundering league. On the court of ‘Flex,’ the play by Candrice Jones, and directed by Rachel Hemphill-Dickson, The Ensemble Theatre in Midtown, Houston, hits the court and shoots for the stars with the hopes and dreams of a high school girls basketball team, playing their hearts out to achieve a goal of championship with college possibilities, and a possible shot at fame and glory in the young WNBA.

The play gets its name from the ‘flex’ offense which gives a player an option for a jump shot or even a layup from the high post, with the assistance of teammates either screening or passing the ball. It takes a lot of practice and teamwork to make it happen, and the ‘fab five’ of rural Plainnole, Arkansas, where the Spring 1998 Lady Train high school basketball team looks to play big time women’s basketball. And why not? The WNBA gave girls across the country a reason to feel optimistic in regards to their play on and off the basketball court, and so goes it with the Train High School ladies. Of course, as with all sports stories, life calls, and the girls must deal with the unforeseen potholes of their existence given their circumstances of being young Black females in a rural setting. Off court pressures are a constant threat to the integrity of the team as they move through the season and strive to remain an impressive and cohesive force against their opponents throughout the campaign. Everything matters in all aspects of life when a championship is on the line.

The play reveals a sense of comradery within the team, but still there are challenges that remain unseen. When team member April Jenkins (Sierra Wilturner) finds herself pregnant, her teammates are supportive, and feign their own showings at basketball practice to meld with Jenkins’ ‘condition.’ Teammate, Starra Jones (Jazmyn Bolden), is the leader of the team, and driven with her goals of winning a state championship, and getting the college scouts to notice her for a chance at a Division 1 scholarship. Her motivations are misdirected via jealousy, and with malice in her heart, plotting to stop the path of her California-born teammate Sidney Brown (Kiya Green), who already has attracted the scouts. Cherise Howard (Krystal Uchem), a bigtime believer in God, and Bless Her for it, is not afraid to express her faith and the Wonders of God, despite the initial lukewarm reception of her teammates, but she keeps plugging away with her angelic intentions. Then there is the bookishly smart Donna Cunningham (Sydney Deone Cooper) who rounds out the team, with neither her or Cherise having basketball aspirations post high school, but get caught up in plot with the other three. Coach Francine Pace (An’tick von Morpxing), plays the dual role of coach and mediator, in an effort to put out off-court fires so as not to affect any negative on-court performance.

The show is filled with many laugh points and is extremely funny in how a girls basketball team runs their daily lives with lessons in the classroom, working part-time in town, practice on the court; but there are serious life implications underlying all of this. The pressures put on girls, especially Black girls in rural Arkansas, whether it be life driven aspirations or giving into sex hungry boys, there are lessons to be learned everywhere. Playwright Candrice Jones understands that life is a big chess game, and if you are playing checkers, you are gonna be left behind. Jones’ work allowed Director Rachel Hemphill-Dickson to run her own flex play, and she coached it perfectly on the stage.

Flex gives a powerful message of uplifting Black women. It’s a coming of age show that deals with the real issues of greed, teenage sex, abortion, intrafamilial sexual abuse and their implications over several generations. Playwright Candrice Jones’ story really makes you think about Life Choices and Consequences to Actions, and how one Mother’s decision in 1979 can affect her star daughter 18 years later. Starra has a special relationship with her dead Mother, the woman who filled her with aspirations growing up to succeed on the basketball court. The teenager looks Heavenly to her lifegiver in reporting her successes, failures, aspirations, and achievements. But still Starra is flawed. Her avoidance of flex and greed on the court costs the team a loss in an important game, causing some turmoil with the relationship of her teammates. More feathers are ruffled when the team learns of her off the court plot to deal with Sidney, a teammate with near equal talent to Starra, and has already attracted scouts. God is needed.

Cherize’s Christianity and its expression onstage is refreshing, and kudos to Jones for making it an important part of the production. Of course, there is some graphic rhetoric in regards to sex, but that’s part of life growing up, and a necessary inclusion in the show. The story itself is real life, and deals with the same instances that we see today with girls in all areas, but it shows that teamwork is key, on and off the court. Plus, friendship, and being supportive of each other helps in overcoming stressors and rising above.

Flex shows a growing maturity in the team, that the championship game is soon approaching, and the team will be going their separate ways. For one it may be motherhood or not, for others it will be college, basketball or not. It all depends on the big time, and being on top of the charts. And the team fights for it. Will they succeed? The game ending shot tells the tale.

Director Rachel Hemphill-Dickson was masterful in getting her actresses to express themselves in so many directions. The acting was exceptional, drawing on the audience's attention, laughing and crying in whatever direction they were being drawn. The performances of Jazmyn Bolden (Starra) and Kyra Green (Sidney) were electric, and it showed in their professionalism on stage. The rivalry of their characters on the stage was heartfelt, and the emotion was felt by the audience, especially when Starra’s plot against Sidney to get her pregnant was exposed. Sierra Wilturner’s (April) character was one of a go-getter, and essentially the glue that held the story together. The audience was very receptive to her character's situation, and hoped the best for her. Sydney Deone Cooper (Donna) and Krystal Uchem (Cherise), played well off each other, with their characters not destined for a basketball future. It wasn’t until the end that the audience finds that there may have been something deeper, and it would have been interesting to understand their motivations given by Hemphill-Dickson. An’tick von Morpxing, played the wonderful, level-headed Coach Pace, always willing to help her athletes on and off the court. Her line about thinking about the consequences to sex before engaging in the act, was truly an inspirational comment.

The half-court set gave the perfect suggestion of its true gym cousin, and Set Designer Brandi Alexander and Nicholas Lewis and their crews deserve massive thanks. The Ensemble never disappoints when it comes to sets, and its reputation precedes it in the region, and points north. Basketball Consultant Monika Robert took a group of young actors turning them into a fine-tuned stage basketball team. Not all shot attempts were made, but the game ending shot landed, and was a sight to see.

The representations of the car, classroom, home setting, and even the dead bird, were spot on, and most welcomed when put into action. Costume Designer Melissa Greggs did an excellent job in appropriate attire, especially during the Baptism scene, where the girls got their Spirit and truly came together as a team. Lighting and Sound designers, Kris Phelps, and Ricjuane Jenkins, did an excellent job, especially with the highway and bird scene, which was entertaining.

You have to attend a showing of Flex at The Ensemble Theatre in Midtown. The acting is true, and tells a story of the dreams of young ladies, striving for their goals in challenging circumstances, and ready to take on the next step in their young lives.

‘Flex’ runs until April 13th at The Ensemble Theatre. For tickets and donations: ensemblehouston.com

Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net