“Beautiful: A Solo Play” written and performed solo by Jozanne Marie, tells the story of a young woman’s journey to forgiveness.

Marie, the play’s protagonist, takes the audience through her traumatic life story, beginning in her home country Jamaica.

Bob Marley’s, “Don’t Worry be Happy” blasted through the speakers as Marie danced onto the stage, making an uplifting entrance. The play opened in a lighthearted fashion and much to the audience’s surprise, its forthcoming gloom quickly turned emotions sour.

Marie talked about her childhood growing up and having been raised by her grandmother whom she called mummy. As she transported the audience back in time to various comical and serious significant events, she pulled each and every onlooker into the deep vivid rabbit hole of her life.

“It was descriptive and enchanting to watch her bring to life so many people,” said Arianna Gonzales, 20-year-old Moorpark College student. “The story was stimulating and while at times heart wrenching, it was lacking in some of the meat of it.”

Marie was captivating! In a nutshell, she described her mother’s mental breakdown, growing up with her grandmother and drunkard step-grandfather, being raped by her dead-beat father and having been thrown back and forth between America and Jamaica. She screamed, cried, laughed, danced and put out a perfect Jamaican accent. Every bit of her story was compelling and invoked emotions that differed for each and every person in the theater.

Rick Wallace, a 21-year-old Moorpark College student, didn’t necessarily enjoy such an emotion-packed performance, but was able to appreciate Marie’s talent and creativity.

“It was a great show and well acted,” said Wallace. “A journey through the darkest aspects of humanity.”

Marie ended the play on a positive note with a heartfelt happy ending. Following a tormenting past of abuse, over coffee ten years later, her father uttered three words, of which she’d been waiting to hear for her entire life: “I am sorry.” Those three words were the key to freedom through forgiveness. Marie didn’t feel beautiful anymore because she wanted to feel needed, but felt beautiful because she was free of shame.

The profound talent of Marie captured the overflowing blackbox theatre spectators. She beautifully portrayed multiple characters in such a way that each could be easily distinguished. The showing may have lacked a chunk of background to her traumas and the religious connotations felt too preachy, although in whole, she gave a heartfelt performance complete with talent and passion.