Mann on the Aisle-JBKO at Revolution Stage Company-Review-UPDATED

Let’s be real for a second: one-person shows are absolutely terrifying. There is no castmate to save you if you forget a line, no one to bounce energy off of, and nowhere to hide. It’s a theatrical high-wire act with no safety net. That’s why the first thing you have to do when you sit down for JBKO at Revolution Stage Company is applaud the sheer bravery of actor Yo Younger.

Yo is a local theater staple here in the Coachella Valley, and this show—penned by Tom Santopietro—lives or dies entirely on her shoulders. Now, she doesn't necessarily look or sound exactly like the Jackie we see in history books, but she lives like her, and that’s what actually matters. I’ll be the first to admit that my attention span can be a bit... scattered. If a show doesn’t grab me early, it usually loses me for good. But Yo kept me locked in for the entire run with a performance that was incredibly detailed and nuanced.

Director Gary Powers kept the staging simple and elegant, using LCD screens and a chic, goldish outfit to give us a glimpse into Jackie’s world without overcomplicating things. He steers Yo away from being overly dramatic, letting her inhabit the mind of a woman who was famously forced to hide her emotions from the public eye. When she finally does let go, it is genuinely heart-wrenching.

If I’m being totally honest with you, the script itself is where I hit a bit of a snag. I didn’t walk away feeling like I learned something "new" or revolutionary about what made Jackie tick. It felt a little like it was scratching the surface of her public life rather than diving into her private soul. But then again, Jackie was a woman who guarded her privacy like a fortress, so maybe there just wasn't much more for the playwright to find.

Despite my gripes with the script, you should absolutely go. Why? Because watching an actor like Yo Younger transport an audience so completely that you forget she's reciting lines is what theater is all about. You’ve only got three chances left to see this: March 27th through the 29th. Head to revolutionstagecompany.com and grab a seat while you can!