Last night's performance of "Trouble in Mind" at The Rep made me love Milwaukee theater again.

After several area shows in the last couple of years that personally missed the mark, I was blown away by how much I loved "Trouble in Mind."

Completely capturing me from start to end, the show possesses the rare ability to balance humor, drama and intensity with actors able to switch from one to another in seconds. Lead Stephanie Berry is both light hearted and serious; able to convey a point of depth without sacrificing audience entertainment.

And then there is her voice.

My only distraction was the lingering hope that we would hear her sing more often in the show.

While the show's theme is as poignant today as it was when written in the 1950s, the playwright's intention and perspective ultimately made the show entirely more compelling.

Written by playwright Alice Childress, the show not only gave a glimpse into the frustrated and demeaned psyche of early African American actors but it was written by an African American actress in a time when she fought for her agenda to coincide with the show's words and actions.

I couldn't help but continuously place scenes and character positions in the context of the politically charged mid-1900s. I felt the show truly reminded me of a different place and time.

In the end, I left more entertained than I ever expected. "Trouble in Mind" runs for just one more weekend and I strongly urge you to hurry up and get your ticket.