By Katrina “Kat” Reynold
WHERE WE STAND presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through February 22nd. I attended the Opening Thursday performance.
Torie Wiggins as Man on the beautiful set of WHERE WE STAND presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.
This February, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is celebrating artists of colour as part of Black History Month with its production of Where We Stand by Donnetta Lavinia Grays. This one-person show is described in short as “a secret shared, a community tested” and takes the audience on a storytelling journey of moral considerations. As a flailing town deteriorates before its inhabitants’ very eyes, a deal is offered as a quick fix to their troubles – but at what cost?
In a town starved for compassion, a mysterious outsider steps forward to confess a life-altering choice made at the crossroads of desperation and desire. What unfolds is not just a story but a profound reckoning. Where We Stand is a gripping, poetic solo performance that masterfully blends fable and contemporary storytelling, drawing audiences into a crucial moral dilemma. As one person is pushed to the edge, the audience is asked to consider the balance between consequence and empathy, challenging us to think about the true cost of mercy and who is worthy of it. This spellbinding, modern parable looks at forgiveness and justice, raising the question of what it means to be a community . . . and who gets to belong.
Candice Handy excels in her direction of her performing artist as blocking is rife with movement and forward momentum. Scenic Design by Brian c. Mehring is once again without comparison: the playing levels are subtle, yet effective and you truly feel like your are outside in a decaying, concrete-ridden world. Mr. Mehring, who also serves as the Lighting Designer, provides a suitably emotional backdrop with lighting highs and lows to complement his creative set.
A one-person show is a very tall order; fortunately, ETC has the inimitable Torie Wiggins (recently named as one of its People to Watch in 2026 by The Voice of Black Cincinnati). It should come as no surprise that Ms. Wiggins can play a myriad of characters against herself without lapsing into caricatures or cheapness. I personally do not believe she knows the meaning of the term “phoning it in”. Her voice is one of her strongest instruments as the audience is treated to just about every octave she has mastered. In a story where our hero is flawed, Ms. Wiggins is able to elicit sympathy and a desire for them to win in spite of it all.
Tapping into the relatability of being down on one’s luck, Where We Stand tests our moral compass in creative ways: through song, storytelling, and audience participation. Would you be able to refuse a seemingly easily fix when you are at your lowest – and, if you were unable to resist temptation, would you expect to be forgiven? In our quests to be acknowledged, it is easy to get lost; this tale reminds us to stay grounded.
Click here for more information about the production.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 