‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’ Review: The Mark Taper Forum Has an Ensemble Comedy Rich and Rewarding Enough to Merit Extensions

If ever a play seemed tailor-made — tailor-braided? — for the Mark Taper Forum stage, at least in the 2020s, it’s “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.” The most intimate of the three Music Center theaters in downtown L.A. is clearly upholding its mandate to do programming that represents a broader range of cultures, but at 739 seats, the Taper is hardly so small that it can afford to skip out on the mandate to entertain the traditional theater audience. How sweet it is, then, to witness how delightfully “Jaja” fills that sweet spot where cultural specificity and undeniable mainstream appeal collide. It feels good to hear the laughter of Black

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