Virgin Islanders prepare: Hazelle Goodman is getting ready to take the stage again this weekend, and for two worthy causes.
The theme is "A Night of Love and Laughter," but the Trinidadian entertainer describes it as "a night of comedy" and an "opportunity to
play."
"It's really a night for a good time, outrageousness and letting your hair down," she said.
The actress/comedienne's performances at St. Croix's Island Center on Feb. 5 and St. Thomas's Reichhold Center for the Arts on Feb. 6 will benefit the non-profit organization Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) and the V.I. Breast and Cervical Cancer Early detection program, a division of
the Health Department.
" You can't say 'no' to something like that," she said.
The high-powered, one-woman show will feature Goodman playing up to 12 characters who will engage in impromptu dialogue with audience members about topics and themes she feels all audiences can relate to: weight, man and woman relationships and even some political issues such as immigration.
Each character is unique and yet universal because there is a blend of cultures and backgrounds such as Hispanic, Caucasian and Caribbean, such as the oldest character of them all, Millie.
So which audience members get selected?
"I don't look for anything," she said. "I just go where the character leads me."
This interplay between performer and audience requires a certain rapport, and Goodman describes the Virgin Islands audience as warm and supportive.
Because she is often performing, Goodman said she is constantly preparing for new performances by writing, studying lines and rehearsing but she also prepares physically through diet and exercise and spiritually by meditating and sitting still.
"I try to keep as much of the energy as possible," she said.
Goodman has been described as the "HBO powerhouse" after being signed by an HBO executive for a television special for which she was nominated for a Cable Ace Award.
She has also co-starred in a Woody Allen film, "Deconstructing Harry," with silver screen greats such as Robin Williams, Kristie Allie and Demi Moore.
Goodman is no stranger to the Virgin Islands and was featured at Reichhold in February last year and most recently on both islands in October for a WOW conference.
Tickets for her Reichhold performance range from $15 to $40 and are on sale at Modern Music, Chicco's, Krystal and Gifts Galore, Color of Joy and the Reichhold box office on St. Thomas and through the Island Center box office on St. Croix.
For more information call Dionne Carty at 774-9000, ext. 4643.