REVIEWS
"Johnson makes us feel compassion for this man and understand his long journey and the ends he would go to save his son from a lost-boy life."
--Susan Galbraith, DC Theatre Scene
--Susan Galbraith, DC Theatre Scene
"James J. Johnson is natty and composed as Wright. . . a coiled presence that commands attention."
--Nelson Pressley, The Washington Post
"Both Johnson and Hunter seem to relish their roles filling them with swagger, intelligence and heart."
--George Kevin Jordan, AFRO.com
"James J. Johnson is elegant . . . a strong and deliberate force as Richard Wright. . ."
--Debbie Minter Jackson, DC Theatre Scene
"'Les Deux Noirs' is still a winner thanks to the performances by James J. Johnson as the self-satisfied Wright. . . Both are fully up to the erudite and crackling text."
--Roger Catlin, Broadway World
". . . both Johnson and Hunter are adept at physical comedy. . ."
--John Stoltenberg, DC Metro Theater Arts
". . . both Hunter and Johnson deliver with wit, depth, and humor. . . [They] do a good job executing the script. . ."
--Michele Simms-Burton, DC Metro Theater Arts
--Nelson Pressley, The Washington Post
"Both Johnson and Hunter seem to relish their roles filling them with swagger, intelligence and heart."
--George Kevin Jordan, AFRO.com
"James J. Johnson is elegant . . . a strong and deliberate force as Richard Wright. . ."
--Debbie Minter Jackson, DC Theatre Scene
"'Les Deux Noirs' is still a winner thanks to the performances by James J. Johnson as the self-satisfied Wright. . . Both are fully up to the erudite and crackling text."
--Roger Catlin, Broadway World
". . . both Johnson and Hunter are adept at physical comedy. . ."
--John Stoltenberg, DC Metro Theater Arts
". . . both Hunter and Johnson deliver with wit, depth, and humor. . . [They] do a good job executing the script. . ."
--Michele Simms-Burton, DC Metro Theater Arts
"The men expertly fill their distinct roles. . .James J. Johnson gives a memorable supporting performance as he makes Derek’s simple, decent character both funny and intriguing."
--Steven McKnight, DC Theatre Scene
--Steven McKnight, DC Theatre Scene
"Ayesha Gowie and James J. Johnson give the most naturalistic and persuasive depictions."
--Steven McKnight, DC Theatre Scene
--Steven McKnight, DC Theatre Scene
"Johnson’s Baloo is wise, caring and fun, and from what I could tell from the children in the audience, he was a favorite character in the jungle."
--April Forrer, MD THEATRE GUIDE
--April Forrer, MD THEATRE GUIDE
". . . L.C. Minor (played with understated simplicity and affecting grace by James J. Johnson). "
--John Stoltenberg, DC Metro Theater Arts
". . . winsome. . ."
--Lisa Traiger, Washington Jewish Week
*Chosen as one of DC Metro Theater Arts' "Best of 2013: Favorite Supporting Actors in a Play."
--John Stoltenberg, DC Metro Theater Arts
". . . winsome. . ."
--Lisa Traiger, Washington Jewish Week
*Chosen as one of DC Metro Theater Arts' "Best of 2013: Favorite Supporting Actors in a Play."
"James J. Johnson is also an integral part of the success of this play with his portrayal of Samuel Reed, a free black man and conductor on the Underground Railroad. Thanks to Isbell’s fine and accessible writing, and Johnson’s relatable and natural portrayal of Reed, audience members young and old can be reminded of the importance of freedom and the personal sacrifices many have made to secure it for others. "
--Jennifer Perry, BROADWAY WORLD
*Nominated for Best Performance by Supporting Actor in a Children's Play - Maryland Theatre Guide's Readers' Choice Awards, 2013.
--Jennifer Perry, BROADWAY WORLD
*Nominated for Best Performance by Supporting Actor in a Children's Play - Maryland Theatre Guide's Readers' Choice Awards, 2013.
"Johnson's G.Petto is sweetly nerdy. . ."
--Celia Wren, THE WASHINGTON POST
"James J. Johnson plays Dad G. Petto with care and gentle grace. . ."
--Debbie Jackson, DC THEATRE SCENE
--Celia Wren, THE WASHINGTON POST
"James J. Johnson plays Dad G. Petto with care and gentle grace. . ."
--Debbie Jackson, DC THEATRE SCENE
"Mr. and Mrs. Primm (James J. Johnson and Misty Demory respectively) are strong too, working perfectly together as the parents. . ."
--Miriam Chernick, DC THEATRE SCENE
--Miriam Chernick, DC THEATRE SCENE
"Johnson, in particular, succeeds in juggling Joseph's menacing and vulnerable qualities."
--Celia Wren, WASHINGTON POST
"Both Cynthia Costa Rollins and James J. Johnson are up to the particularly tough challenges of a two-person show. Like a pas de deu when dancers must trust each other with split second accuracy– there’s even a pseudo “lift” in keeping with The dance analogy-they connect throughout the piece with great timing, skillful non-verbals, and genuine affection. . . Johnson portrays Joseph’s growing discontent with lurking intensity – from seeking refuge from the heat, to listening politely as budding confidant, to gradually becoming more sinister with hints of being predatory."
--Debbie Minter Jackson, DC THEATRE SCENE
". . . award winning performances. . ."
"Mr. Johnson is so affable one wants to support his pleas for necessary money. . ."
--Bob Anthony, ALLARTSREVIEW4U
--Celia Wren, WASHINGTON POST
"Both Cynthia Costa Rollins and James J. Johnson are up to the particularly tough challenges of a two-person show. Like a pas de deu when dancers must trust each other with split second accuracy– there’s even a pseudo “lift” in keeping with The dance analogy-they connect throughout the piece with great timing, skillful non-verbals, and genuine affection. . . Johnson portrays Joseph’s growing discontent with lurking intensity – from seeking refuge from the heat, to listening politely as budding confidant, to gradually becoming more sinister with hints of being predatory."
--Debbie Minter Jackson, DC THEATRE SCENE
". . . award winning performances. . ."
"Mr. Johnson is so affable one wants to support his pleas for necessary money. . ."
--Bob Anthony, ALLARTSREVIEW4U
Other standouts in the cast include. . . James J. Johnson as Berenice's rebellious brother."
--Paul Harris, VARIETY
"The supporting cast is generally successful -- particularly James J. Johnson, smoldering with resentment and displaying a feral energy as the doomed Honey Camden Brown, a member of Berenice's family who has not adjusted himself to white domination."
--Michael Toscano, THEATERMANIA
"The only other impassioned performance is that of James J. Johnson as Berenice's outspoken foster brother, an African-American who gets his first - and last - taste of real freedom when he dangerously stands up for his rights. His character may be on the run when he tells Berenice, 'I'm free and it makes me happy,' but Johnson almost glows as he expresses these hard-earned feelings of independence and dignity."
--J. Wynn Rousuck, THE BALTIMORE SUN
"Johnson's Honey looks ready to explode even when in repose. . ."
--Bob Mondello, WASHINGTON CITY PAPER
--Paul Harris, VARIETY
"The supporting cast is generally successful -- particularly James J. Johnson, smoldering with resentment and displaying a feral energy as the doomed Honey Camden Brown, a member of Berenice's family who has not adjusted himself to white domination."
--Michael Toscano, THEATERMANIA
"The only other impassioned performance is that of James J. Johnson as Berenice's outspoken foster brother, an African-American who gets his first - and last - taste of real freedom when he dangerously stands up for his rights. His character may be on the run when he tells Berenice, 'I'm free and it makes me happy,' but Johnson almost glows as he expresses these hard-earned feelings of independence and dignity."
--J. Wynn Rousuck, THE BALTIMORE SUN
"Johnson's Honey looks ready to explode even when in repose. . ."
--Bob Mondello, WASHINGTON CITY PAPER
"J.J. Johnson Jr. has a nice, guileless style as Rickey-Trey; the character's immaturity is a simplifying filter for the play's increasingly baroque complexities, and Johnson delivers the naive one-liners with gentle grace."
--Nelson Pressley, THE WASHINGTON POST
"James J. Johnson as Ricky-Trey contributes an award-worthy performance that is as touching as it is funny."
--Walter Ruff, DC THEATRE REVIEWS
--Nelson Pressley, THE WASHINGTON POST
"James J. Johnson as Ricky-Trey contributes an award-worthy performance that is as touching as it is funny."
--Walter Ruff, DC THEATRE REVIEWS
"Johnson's inventive clowning (especially when Ab gets shot) takes some sting out of the play's direst events."
--Bob Mondello, WASHINGTON CITY PAPER
--Bob Mondello, WASHINGTON CITY PAPER
". . . Starnes's pairing with Johnson eases her burden. He's appealingly full of beans in his encounters with Anna and her family, telling them that he has just graduated from agricultural college, where he 'majored in fertilizers.' The line gets a healthy laugh. It's one of the interludes in which this 'Anna' manages a clean escape from its melodramatic shackles."
--WASHINGTON POST, October 2, 2002
--WASHINGTON POST, October 2, 2002