“P-Valley,” which premieres July 12 on STARZ, shows the true stories and lives of exotic dancers.
The show takes place in the Mississippi Delta and uses trap music and cinematography to aid in the storytelling process. The strip club the Pynk is a safe space for Black female sexuality and gender fluidity. The Pynk is not just the home of exotic dancers but it is also the home of a chosen family.
The show written by Katori Hall shows lives beyond the pole and the true athleticism behind exotic dancing. With the characters of Autumn Night and Andre Watkins audiences will see the “bougie femme fatal” and the clean-cut Morehouse man interactions with each other.
Autumn Night who is played by Elarica Johnson enters the show with nothing but her stilettos and designer bag and is an enigma. She quickly transitions into her life in the Mississippi Delta and at the Pynk. With the character of Andre who is played by Parker Sawyers there is the return of the prodigal son attempting to make Chucalissa great and prosperous, but it comes at a cost.
There is a chemistry that is undeniable between the two characters and their realities and struggles are on display through their interactions. When discussing the show with Elarica Johnson and Parker Sawyers the two actors’ friendship with one another aids in successfully creating the bond between Autumn and Andre. Sawyers compares the show to a family reunion and the level of familiarity between the cast will draw viewers in and help them feel a part of the chosen family of the Pynk.
When watching the show Hall’s complex characters and their development is parallel to most people’s lives. The show will make viewers rethink how they view strip club culture, the Mississippi Delta, and Black femininity.
