Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / May 9, 1997, edition 1 / Page 8
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5^HE_COMPASS__^7da^j_Ma^_9j_22£7 Entertainment t » # f » % * Ik # f % Brian Jordan (T-Bone), Damon Freshwater (Marlowe), Cliff Vanderpool (G-Money) and Ramesh Rampersand (Romello), portray "The Fifth Street Gang" in A Gansia s Paradise, p>erformed during the One-Act Play Festival. The play, written by ECSU student Joel Parker, tells the story of four hoodlums who struggle to control drug dealing in their 'hood. One-Act Play Festival a s h o of student talent in writing, directing by Leslie Brown The University Player's One Act Play Festival was a showcase of student tal ent at its best. Written, directed, and produced by students of ECSU, the five one-act plays examined a diverse range of topics—homosexual acceptance, race relations, drugs and violence, the pur suit of dreams, and the Apocalypse. Intheop>eningplayHa/Z2?flfs writer/ director Michelle Lewis probes the so cial ills between blacks and whites among contemporary high school stu dents. Patrick (Damon Freshwater) a pro-black, afro-centric member of the Nation of Islam, debases whites and friend Willie (Gary Walton) for having a white girlfriend and living around white p»eople. Willie, on the other hand, feels there is nothing wrong with dat ing and interacting with white people. ALthough Lewis's script is generally well written , at times the dialogue seemed to be wondering aimlessly. Old conservative religious beliefs and modem non-conservative beliefs clash in PhiWipVuryear's For the Love of God. In Puryear's emotional drama Reece (Puryear) returns to his mother's home following a two year absence. In his return he hopes to reconcile with a mother who has completely shut him out of her life because he is gay. The mother (Kendra Bradshaw) is unwill ing to allow herself to accept her son back in her life. Bradshaw gives a splendid perfor mance in her portrayal of the stubborn, religious mother unable to cop>e with her son's life-style. For the Love of God is a superbly written, sensitive look at how a family is being tom apart by an inflexible mother. Joel L. Parker's A Gangsta's Paradise explored the harsh reality of drug deal ing and killing. Four thuggish-ruggish hoodlums battle for drug dealing su premacy as they keep their neighbor hood on lockdown. The only things that matter to T- Bone(Brian Jordan), Romello (Ramesh Rampersad), G-Money (Cliff Vanterpool), and Marlowe (Damon Freshwater), are respect and money. However reality kicks in when G- Money's cousin is mistakenly shot and killed. The death sends Marlowe over the edge while it causes a distraught G-Money to search for a better life. A death of a mutual friend brings the old crew together after 10 years. Three members of the former crew find that they are living respectful lives away from dmgs and violence. Marlowe, however, has yet to repent from his old ways; this leads once again to tragic consequences. The most surprising and delightful play of the evening was Ezekiel Jacobs. Written and directed by Troy Lewter, the play explores the relationship be tween an elderly uncle and his nephew. Khalid Baum gives a sensational per formance as Ezekiel Jacobs, the elderly uncle who took responsibility of rais ing his nephew Daniel (Shaunell McMillan) after the death of Daniel's parents. McMillan gives an equally superb performance as Daruel, an as piring writer pursuing his dreams. Michael WeUman's The Doomsday Sa loon took a ride on the wild side. Cen tered in a bar, the story focuses on a motley assortment of characters and the supposed final day. Straight out of a scene from the film Pulp Fiction, the bizarre but entertaining tale follows Dante (Michael Wellman) a bartender who attracts some peculiar patrons. As the final hour approaches, tension builds around acts of lust, confessions and a murder. ECSU Drama professor Shawn Smith makes a guest appear ance as the Reverend Schwab, a con artist/preacher. The University Players One-Act Play Festival was co-produced by LaVonne L. McClain and Joel L. Parker. The technical supervisor was Mattie Perry, and the general stage manager was Terrel Silver.
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
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May 9, 1997, edition 1
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