Charlayne Woodard’s one-woman show “The Night Watcher” is a series of stories of some of the children she has been auntie to. Woodard had loving aunties of her own who helped her get through the hardships of life, and she set out to be the same support and comfort to the children in her life. Her experiences with her charges has enriched and colored her life.

Woodard grew up in Albany, New York, the eldest of five children. She spent a large portion of her youth mothering her siblings. The decision to not have children made by Woodard and husband Harris is pivotal to her adult life.

The first story is about Alfrie Woodard calling her and asking her to adopt a mixed-race child, just about to be born. She explains to Alfrie that, after thinking it over and discussing it with her husband Harris, she can’t do it. “If I have a baby, I can’t be the baby!”

Friends call and want her to be godmother to their daughter Indira. She thinks about it and, although her first inclination is to decline it, she decides to do it. When the family and friends are in St. Agatha’s church for the baptism, the priest quotes from Luke: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” This becomes a mantra in her life.

When Indira is 14 she calls her auntie in a panic. She’s pregnant. Her mother is overseas for a few weeks. Her father is pretty much unaware. Indira wants an abortion. She and Woodard come up with a plan to have the baby and Woodard’s brother-in-law’s sibling and spouse will adopt her. Indira’s mother finally gets back and reams Woodard for interfering in her daughter’s life. Essentially she told her to “butt out.” It’s a fuzzy grey line to cross regarding how much is caring and how much is interfering; how much is caring and how much is uncalled for.

One story is about Benamarie, the adopted daughter of Harris’ brother and sister-in-law. She is a racially-mixed child and cannot believe that she is black. The 11-year-old comes out to stay with Woodard and begins every sentence with an exclamatory, “Jesus Christ!” Woodard tries to reign in the self-centered child but ends up spending $150 for designer sunglasses before putting her back on the plane for home.

One of the funniest stories took place in a L.A. boutique called Puppies and Babies. Woodard was there to buy a winter coat for her Maltese dog Max before she went north for another production. She picks out a shearling lined coat and when she’s getting ready to pay for it, her mother calls. Mom overhears the saleswoman say “$148” and she is aghast. “I am very disappointed in you, Charlayne, very disappointed. ... You should be buying a shearling lined coat for a child! Not a dog!”

Each of the stories is enthralling and Woodard is a gifted storyteller. She is so expressive and her mobile face and big, dark eyes are luminous. Her interactions with nieces, nephews and assorted “adopted” kin are exciting, poignant and emotionally true.

She ends with a story of talking to an African man while waiting for the subway in New York. They begin chatting and when he tells her that she spits in the face of God and she’s a waste because she doesn’t have children, she is stunned. As they get on the train, she tells him that the world doesn’t need more people; it needs people to care about the children who are already here! He recants his criticism.

If you went to Kevin Kling’s production of “How How Why Why Why” at the Rep, you’ll understand the pure pleasure of good storytelling.

Woodard’s “The Night Watcher” is directed by Tony-nominated, former Seattle Repertory Artistic Director Dan Sullivan, who directed her other three solo shows.

Tom Lynch’s set is very simple: a set of three cloth blinds that cover the back of the stage and a chair. Each story is introduced by simple lettering projected on the blinds with the name of the child/story. Also on the blinds, there are occasional scene-setting, cropped photos. This simplicity reinforces the importance of the storyteller and her stories.

The lighting by Rose Pederson is soft and glowing. She had to light the whole stage area, for Woodard moves all over it.

“The Night Watcher” runs through Oct. 26 at Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St., Seattle. For more information about the ticket prices and days of performance, call the box office at (877) 900-9285 or go online at www.seattlerep.org.