20th Play - Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames
Cage Sebastian Pierre (Grif), Kai A. Ealy (Isa), Trent Davis (Tiny) and Charles Andrew Gardner (Daz) in Timeline’s 2020 Chicago Production. Photo: Lara Goetsch
Okay, so it’s almost mid-September. I DID read a play a day in August, but am behind in my posts. Life is busy, but I’ll try to get them out one by one. This is another great playwright, and this play is powerful. I think seeing it would be MUCH more powerful than reading it, but it has a lot to say, and there’s also humor, which is so great, but it makes the hard stuff even more hard.
Summary: “Four black men find themselves stuck in a waiting room for the afterlife. As they attempt to make sense of their new paradise, Isa, Daz, Grif, and Tiny are forced to confront the reality of their past, and how they arrived in this unearthly place. Inspired by the ever-growing list of slain black men and women, KILL MOVE PARADISE illustrates the potential for collective transformation and radical acts of joy.” Concord Theatricals
Laura’s thoughts in brief: Honestly, this one is a tough read, as you realize that there is a lot a strong director will do with it that the reader may not be able to imagine. I think there is so much that movement, sound, lights, and actually seeing the actors go through all the things in the script would do to elevate the show, that reading it doesn’t quite do it justice. Reviews talked about how powerful the show is, and I can see how it definitely would be in person.
It’s hard to see these sad stories unfold, although funny at times, which is appreciated!, and makes us care about the characters more. Just when you think it can’t get any worse after we get to know the first three Black men who have lost their lives too soon, Tiny shows up, a young, small boy (15-16 per the script) He talks about a kid being shot as he was playing a game in the park with a toy gun. This is based on the real life story of the 12 year old Tamir Rice, if you recall. Tiny comes to realize it was him that was shot and goes through denial and a lot more. “Am I scary? Am I? Is it me? Did something happen? A long time ago? Was it something I did? Is it something that was made that we can’t kill? (Silence.) What is everyone so afraid of?” Tiny asks these questions to the audience, who likely doesn’t answer. What great questions. Then the show gets playful, but the play uncovers some hard truths. There are games, a three-headed alien monster created by the men, a song, and a sitcom parody. I imagine the movement work to be essential and beautiful in this piece. I would love to see it - someone in Chicago do it! (I missed the Timeline production in 2020. Sad about that.)
It does a great job of humanizing what feels to many (and apparently iJames) like an epidemic in our country. But seeing the stories of four three-dimensional humans that lost their lives way too early brings the tragedy of this epidemic home in a very personal way. Unfortunately, this story needs to keep being told.
READ MORE! Here’s what some of the critics had to say about productions:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/11/theater/kill-move-paradise-review.html
https://windycitytimes.com/2020/02/23/theater-review-kill-move-paradise/
https://mdtheatreguide.com/2020/02/theatre-review-kill-move-paradise-at-rep-stage/