The Whoopi Monologues Review: A Powerful Ensemble Brings Whoopi Goldberg’s Legacy Back to the Stage

By Justin D Williams

I went into The Whoopi Monologues excited to see Kerry Washington perform live, but I walked away impressed by the entire cast. This was not a show where one actress carried everything. Kara Young, Dominique Fishback, Danielle Pinnock, Kecia Lewis, and Kerry Washington each brought something different to the stage. The current production is playing at Lincoln Center Theater’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. Even though the show is connected to Broadway history, this production is technically Off-Broadway. What made the night special for me was seeing Whoopi Goldberg’s original characters performed by a new generation of talented Black actresses.

Before Whoopi Goldberg became a major movie star, an Oscar winner, and a television personality, she made a name for herself through a one-woman stage show. The production was first known as The Spook Show. Goldberg created several different characters and performed all of them herself. Director Mike Nichols later helped bring the show to Broadway in 1984 under the title Whoopi Goldberg. The show was not regular stand-up comedy. Goldberg changed her voice, posture, facial expressions, and movements to become completely different people. The characters were funny, but their stories also dealt with serious subjects like racism, poverty, addiction, beauty standards, abortion, aging, and immigration. The performance was later filmed for HBO as Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway. Goldberg returned to Broadway in 2004 for a twentieth anniversary production, where she revisited some of the characters and introduced new material. This history made me appreciate the current production even more. It reminded me that Whoopi Goldberg did not simply become famous because Hollywood gave her an opportunity. She created her own work and showed people what she could do before many of her famous movie roles existed.

The biggest difference in The Whoopi Monologues is that the characters are now divided among five actresses. Kara Young plays Fontaine. Dominique Fishback plays Blonde Girl. Danielle Pinnock performs as Jamaican Lady. Kerry Washington takes on Surfer Girl, and Kecia Lewis closes the show as Lurleen. At first, I wondered whether splitting the characters between five performers would take away from what made the original show impressive. A major part of Goldberg’s performance was watching one person transform into several completely different people. However, I quickly understood why this new version works. Instead of asking the actresses to copy Whoopi Goldberg, the production allows each woman to bring her own personality to the material. It also helped me pay more attention to Goldberg’s writing. I was not only thinking about the performances. I was also thinking about how these characters were written and why their stories still matter today. The show felt like Whoopi Goldberg was passing something down to the actresses who came after her.

From my seat, I could see a large arch covered with warm bulbs. Behind it were tall gray curtains and glowing blue and turquoise columns. The stage floor also had a blue, worn look that reflected the lighting. Several lamps hung from above, making the space feel like a mix of a television studio, a nightclub, and a backstage dressing room. The theater is very intimate, so I never felt far away from the performers. Even while sitting toward the side, I could still see the stage clearly and feel connected to what was happening. As the show continued, the set opened up to reveal dressing room spaces for the actresses. Each area helped create the feeling that these women were preparing to step out and become the characters Whoopi Goldberg originally created. I also liked the use of lighting. The colors changed depending on the mood of each monologue. Some scenes felt warm and playful, while others became colder and more serious. The production never became too busy, and the design usually supported the actresses without distracting from them. Whoopi Goldberg’s recorded voice is also heard at the beginning of the show. Her introduction immediately brought her personality into the theater, even though she did not appear onstage.

The performances are what truly carry The Whoopi Monologues. Kara Young opens the show with sharp humor and confidence as Fontaine, while Dominique Fishback gives the performance that affected me the most through the quiet sadness and innocence she brings to Blonde Girl. Danielle Pinnock delivers the biggest comic energy of the evening and keeps her section lively even when the material feels slightly dated. Kerry Washington handles one of the show’s most difficult emotional shifts, moving from exaggerated comedy into something much darker without losing the character she established. Kecia Lewis closes the production with warmth, honesty, and a strong sense of joy. What I appreciated most was that no one felt overshadowed. Each actress had her own moment, and together they made the show feel like a true ensemble celebration of Whoopi Goldberg’s work.

Final Thoughts and Rating:

I left The Whoopi Monologues with a much stronger appreciation for Whoopi Goldberg. I already knew her from movies, television, comedy, and award shows, but this production reminded me that she was also an important theatrical writer and performer. She created characters that allowed audiences to laugh while also forcing them to think about people they might normally ignore. The new production loses some of the excitement of watching one actress transform into every character. However, it gains something different by allowing five women to carry Goldberg’s work forward. Kara Young opened the show with confidence and sharp humor. Dominique Fishback gave the performance that affected me the most emotionally. Danielle Pinnock brought the largest energy. Kerry Washington handled one of the most difficult emotional changes, and Kecia Lewis gave the ending warmth and joy. Some of the material has aged better than other parts, and a few moments could have moved faster. Even with those issues, I found the show funny, thoughtful, uncomfortable, and uplifting. More than forty years after Whoopi Goldberg first performed these characters, their stories still have something important to say.