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Peer Reviews

Don't Push Me, Cuz I'm Close to the Edge...

A review by Joe Monroe, II

Entire contents copyright © 2008 Joe Monroe, II. All rights reserved.

What do you get when you cross a D.J., spoken word, a set of drums and a full house? You get a new hit show called the break/s.

The Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors is where "theatre lovers from around the world converge to get the first look at the future of the American theatre." The writer and performer of the break/s, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, gave us a glimpse of what the future can be, as a combination of dance, rhythm and poetic banter kept the audience wondering what was next.

"How do you feel about women and hip-hop?" "If you could ask Jay-Z anything in the world, what would it be?" "What do you think about white people and hip-hop?" If jazz is the broom that Africans jumped over to become Americans, then what is hip-hop?" These were questions that were asked pre-show by a supporting cast member, Tommy Shepherd, a.k.a. Soulati. Soulati went around to several audience members posing one of these four questions to each and receiving a wide variety of answers. Little did we know that these and other such questions were posed and answered during the performance.

the break/s is a refreshing change from the norm. Although 50% of the audience looked as if their only connection with hip-hop might be with telling their children from "Generation X" to turn that music down, 98% of the audience really seemed to enjoy the show. This show is loaded with so many messages and subtext that at the end those who are familiar with hip-hop and its roots have a greater appreciation for it, and those who were less knowledgeable about the subject should have a better understanding.

Joseph delivers a performance that is energetic, emotional and entertaining. At the end he quotes one of the founders of hip-hop, GrandMaster Flash, who says, "Don't push me cuz I'm close to the edge, I'm trying not to lose my head." It was relevant because the break/s is definitely on the edge of greatness. It will keep you on the edge of your seat, and although you won't lose your head by not seeing this, you will miss a treat.

the break/s
By Marc Bamuthi Joseph
Directed by Michael John Garcés

32nd Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays
March 8 - 29, 2008
Actors Theatre of Louisville
316 West Main Street
502-584-1205
www.actorstheatre.org/

Posted March 20, 2008