Intimate Apparel is the story of Esther (Kearstin Piper Brown), an African American who has come to New York City hoping to find more job opportunities and a better life for herself. She loves her work, sewing beautiful underclothing for upscale women. But her personal life is a disaster. She's in her late 30's and has no husband, no children, and no prospects. The one male with whom she has formed a bond is strictly forbidden fruit. He's Mr. Marks (Arnold Livingston Gels), the orthodox Jew who sells Esther her fabrics. He's obviously very attracted to Esther, but his faith does not even allow a touch from a woman who is not his wife or fiancee. When they discuss and stroke the materials, they are full of yearning, and their attraction is evident.
A friend introduces Esther to a way she can write to a man she's never met. He turns out to be one of the downtrodden laborers on the Panama Canal; he's very happy to hear from Esther and doesn't realize she can neither read nor write. But Esther is clever and does have friends to help her. First and foremost is her rich, white lady client; she's married to a wealthy man, but is as lonely as her seamstress.
George Armstrong (Jorell Williams in the production I saw), is ready and eager to marry Esther when he gets to New York. She has a beautiful wedding gown, with material given to her by Mr. Marks. All seems fine, except that while Esther has her dreams, George has his, and the $100 she has so painfully saved up is just too tempting for him.
Just a word to the theater goer. In the production I attended, there were four little slips of paper in my program. Every audience member cringes at the notice of understudies taking over for principals. In this case, as in many others, the performers were equally superb. Their voices soared to the rafters, and their acting was impeccable. This was a first-rate performance in every way.
