Studio Theatre production earns an ‘A’

Suzan-Lori Parks’ “F*cking A” is an update of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter,” although in this case, the “A” stands for “Abortionist” not “Adulterer.” In a strong production at Studio Theatre, the play takes place in a strange land at an unidentified time. The letter is branded on the chest of the main character, Hester (the extraordinary Jennifer Nelson).

There are many stories in the production: of Hester, who yearns to release her son from prison; of the Mayor (Craig Wallace), who yearns to have a child; of the Mayor’s wife (Jjana Valentiner), who yearns for her husband’s love; of the Mayor’s lover (Ashley Ware), who yearns for the Mayor to marry her; of Hester’s son (Jahi Kearse), who escapes from prison and becomes a celebrated criminal-on-the-run.

Unfortunately, some of those stories never get resolved and the play occasionally meanders, becoming talky and not fully credible. Yet for the most part, Keith Alan Baker and Rahaleh Nassri have directed an extremely talented cast to pack a lot of action, pathos and humor (especially with the appearance of the delightful Vince Brown as the Butcher) into the show.

Giorgos Tsappas’ set is an inventive combination of horizontal and vertical metal bars and platforms, which create an environment for the aerial dances of The Hunters, a blood-thirsty crew of vicious, kilt-wearing policemen. The rest of the set is barren, a reminder of Hester’s unfortunate place of business: dirty tiles, cold tables, a blood-red stripe running down the wall and onto the floor. The music and lyrics, by Parks and musical director Christopher Youstra, are for the most part stark and grating, though at high tension moments they become curiously lyrical and gentle.

“F*cking A” is not agit-prop theatre. It’s clear that Parks has a stance on abortion. Yet the real subjects of the show are motherhood — how it may be desired, refused or celebrated — and the notion of how difficult and painful it is to be a woman, yet how unfailingly women persevere. Looked at from that perspective, “F*cking A” is a hard-edged, unapologetic, unnerving success.