… “Herotique-Aahh,” is one of the most mesmerizing testaments of feminine sexuality put to theatre. Equally impressive is the manner in which humor is smartly used as a way to reveal the hidden erotic truths and desires of all women who desire to be heard and loved. Most spellbinding is the intensity of the performances as the show progresses. This nature of intensity is one in which you pleasantly and therapeutically become more relaxed in your laughter as you question your own insecurities about sex and all of its hidden mysteries.

Lady I’s humorous and trance-like re-enactment of making love…to herself, will be considered a “classic” in years to come.  You wonder why we have not seen more of Iona Morris’s work. Lady L’s “Dominatrix” character is both pleasantly frightening and alternately magnetic. With a whip and paddle in hand, she still manages to exude a powerful and soothing feminine mystique. Lola Love has rightfully earned whatever additional accolades she is bound to receive in the years to come.  Lady M’s, reconstruction of the once-suppressed “Stepford” wife (who appears outwardly innocent, yet who is inwardly sexual, naughty and curious) could have been just another Madonna/Whore split character in the hands of a lesser actress.  But Mariann Aalda’s reinterpretation displays a true knack for satirical insight and comedic truth.

Although shamefully under-used by “Hollywood,” (No one could deny the reality of the struggle that white female actresses over 40 experience in Hollywood. The documentary, “Searching for Debra Winger” illustrates this in pretty good detail. However, Black actresses over 40 are an especially endangered species) this great ensemble of exceptionally talented actresses makes you thankful that they took matters -- and their careers -- into their own hands. Bravo!!  With its excellent production values and camera close-ups, this DVD does an outstanding job of re-creating a true theatrical experience from the vantage point of “the best seat in the house,” and is a definite “must-have” for any serious DVD collector in the categories of erotica, comedy, theatre, women’s studies and African-American cinema. 

Darlene D., Cincinnati, OH.

Live theater doesn't normally translate very well to video, I don't think.  So I was pretty shocked to be laughing my ass off for the last 90 minutes.  It really made me wish I could have been there in person to soak up all the Dionysian juices!

I must say I am quite impressed. I completely understand what all the hoopla is about. Watching the DVD, I was thinking, "This is what theater is really supposed to be -- it's supposed to be a revelation; it's supposed to make you uncomfortable, to laugh involuntarily, to crawl in your skin, to re-evaluate yourself, to reflect, to ease back in your chair and really breathe it in."

Ten percent of the time I see a live performance, I actually enjoy it.  I may not stay engaged the entire time, but if I'm not engaged in what's going on in front of me, it's at least stimulating enough to meditate on my own creative ideas and get lost in a soft world of the imagination.

Only three percent of the time, I think, do I see theater that is clear in vision enough to actually pull me out of my own head, engage me, make me feel something. To say Herotique-Aahh… was funny is quite obvious.  The fact that it was also poignant and boldly courageous is very refreshing.  It certainly fell within this golden three percent.

As a 25-year old guy, the fact that you could keep me riveted on the topic of 'black women over 40 and their sexuality' is astonishing to me.  I really appreciated the form and style of the whole thing.  Nasty cabaret, confessional, vaudeville.  And the writing -- the material!  You all made a tremendous gift of yourselves in terms of what you chose to share.  Kudos for being able to self-extract so deeply.  And I noticed that the actual form of the piece was like a woman's sexual experience in and of itself--rather than the traditional arc with a single climax--it was an evening full of little climaxes and explosions, with foreplays and main courses and well-timed breaks.  The piece seemed to be pulsating in a cyclical, rather than linear, sort of way.  Breaking the rules in more ways than one, I must respectfully note! As one of my Juilliard friends says, "it's all about the work", and the work is superb."

 Alex G., NYC