Ava Jenkins and Margaret Morrison. Photo by Keith Gemerek

Ms. Morrison herself plays the role of Jimmie LeRoy, a white professional male impersonator who has made a name for herself performing in clubs with a song and dance act. For the past three years, she has been accompanied in her act by a black pianist, Claire Hicks (Ava Jenkins), referred to always in public as "Mrs. Claire Hicks." Discretion plus a successful career have allowed the couple to live together without fear. But now that they are facing a return to the U. S. and its low degree of tolerance for such as themselves, they are forced to deal with an uncertain future as well as their own personal insecurities.

Issues of race, gender politics, sexuality, and the demands of friends and family provide the backdrop for the 85-minute play (rewritten from an earlier two-act version). But its real strength lies in its exploration of Jimmie and Claire's relationship, revealed in flashbacks and in the conversations and arguments they have about how to handle things. We learn, for instance, that Claire is a widow, having suffered through a difficult marriage she remained in because it was expected of her. We also learn that Jimmie comes from a Jewish family that disowned her because of her sexual orientation. Both fled to London, then, to get away from stifling lives.

They have lived more true to themselves than they ever were able to do back home, where nothing exists but uncertainty. As they prepare to leave, Jimmie envisions them making a life for themselves in New York, but Claire accuses her of being unrealistic. They may be able to keep their sexuality "invisible," but her race is not something that they can keep out of the eye of those who would judge them most harshly, including her own family and social circle.

The actors and director Cheryl King make the most of the small performance space and bare-bones production, particularly in the use of pre-recorded original and popular piano music of the era played by composer/recording artist Cynthia Hilts. Ms. Morrison is a professional tap dancer, and she gets to show us a bit of that aspect of her talent in segments of Jimmie's on-stage performance. She also does a wonderful job of embodying Jimmie as a male impersonator, with not an ounce of camp involved. For her part, Ms. Jenkins does an excellent job of capturing Claire's lingering sense of disbelief to have found herself in the arms of another woman, and a white woman to boot. You also feel the pain she is coping with due to the likelihood of losing it all, encapsulated so completely as Jimmie sings the Gershwin standard "They Can't Take That Away From Me," and Claire quietly replies, "Yes, they can."

Home In Her Heart
Through March 10
Stage Left Studio, 214 West 30th Street, 6th floor
Tickets online and current Performance Schedule: www.stageleftstudio.net