reviews
CONFEDERATES
"Mengwe Wapimewah Gives a Broadway-Caliber Performance in Dominique Morisseau's Confederates at PlayMakers Rep"
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"But the standout performance belongs to Mengwe Wapimewah as Sara. Her poignant and humorously defiant delivery of Sara's lines -- not to mention her pronounced yet credible facial expressions -- cements her as the emotional heart of the play. Wapimewah's ability to make Sara both a symbol of historical suffering and a fully realized, relatable human being is truly impressive."
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"If this production embarks on a national tour, it would be a privilege to see Mengwe Wapimewah bring Sara to life again."
"Energetically and endearingly portrayed by Mengwe, Sara finds herself in a sticky situation when she’s asked to begin working in the “main house” and spying on the plantation owner…"
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"Wapimewah and Wilson share an easy, believable chemistry as brother and sister, one that helps to bring both characters alive and cement them in the minds and hearts of viewers."
" Meanwhile, Mengwe Wapimewah stuns as Sara. Her character leaps headfirst into the Union cause with a sharp wit and sharp tongue to boot. Sara is able to stand toe-to-toe with her brother, with her former mistress, Missy Sue, and with her fellow slave, LuAnne, and part of why this is possible is because Wapimewah's comedic timing is impeccable. Seriously, she is able to make the darkest jokes land; and her physical reactions to the other characters are some of the funniest moments in the play. More than that, Wapimewah has depicted Sara as a determined woman who will survive if she does nothing else."
"Mengwe Wapimewah gives us a Sara who is feisty, animated, and determined -- a bundle of energy. Postures, body language, and distinct facial expressions punctuate Wapimewah's performance, seasoning our understanding of the character with humor."
"There we meet the other central character, Sara (gifted graduate student actor Mengwe Wapimewah), a field slave who learned to read as a child …"
"One is Sara (an entertaining yet poignant Mengwe Wapimewah), who yearns to escape her bondage and fight for the Union during the U.S. Civil War."
CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY
"Mengwe Wapimewah’s facial expressions and body language personify the younger Ermina Crump's youthful enthusiasm, mischievousness, and naiveté with comical, though realistic, effect. She was my 14-year-oid son's favorite part of the production."
"Ermina Crump, played by Mengwe Wapimewah, is booming with energy. Her body language and expressions shine through completely. And the range of emotions she brings is always exciting to see, as subtlety, she makes this character complex."
"…Wapimewah truly shines (and often outshines) as the petulant sister forced along for the ride."
"Mengwe Wapimewah’s Ermina stands in stark contrast to her sister. Where Ernestine is mild and reserved, Ermina is irreverent, outgoing, sassy, and impatient. In other words, she is a typical teenager. However, I have special regard for Wapimewah’s portrayal of the character because of how fully she embodies Ermina. Every thump of her leg, every sassy delivery of the lines makes Ermina, who could be portrayed as nothing more than a stock character, into a real person. Everyone knows someone like Ermina, and that is why we can’t help but have a bit of love for her, even when she is at her nastiest."
THE WOLVES
"As #00, the team’s goalie with a tendency to vomit from anxiety, Mengwe Wapimewah is wonderfully strong and vulnerable, a powerhouse combination that makes viewers both admire and worry about her character. Here, Wapimewah acts mostly with her body and her face. Her lines, while powerfully delivered, become almost secondary to her impeccable physical characterization."
THE CHRISTMAS CASE OF HEZEKIAH JONES
"Dani-with-an-I, an "ElfTok" social media influencer who roams the streets of Chapel Hill, is played with great energy and comic chops by Mengwe Wapimewah."
"Highlights of the show are Rasool Jahan’s jazzy but no-nonsense portrayal of black business-woman elf, Silver Bell Sparkle Dash; and Mengwe Wapimewah’s ostentatious and outlandish incarnation of social media influencer Dani (with an i)."