Penned by James Ijames, the Pulitzer Prize author of “Fat Ham,” KILL MOVE PARADISE is a very different, highly creative, and exquisitely powerful look at what it means to be African American – and to have your life cut short. KILL MOVE PARADISE was developed by Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago as part of the Ignition Festival of New Plays in 2016 and soon made its world premiere to critical acclaim at New York City’s National Black Theatre in 2017. According to New York Times reviewer Ben Brantley, the four black characters (Isa, Grif, Daz, and Tiny) “Alternately…become scary and saintly; grotesque mutants and smooth doo-wop singers; chipper domestic souls who banter to the accompaniment of a sitcom laugh track, and hounds of hell. I mean that literally; in one of the evening’s most unsettling vignettes, Isa, Grif, and Daz advance on Tiny as a single, snarling three-headed Cerberus…watchwords and phrases of protest associated with the ‘Black Lives Movement’ are…woven into the play’s fabric. (phrases like) ‘I can’t breathe’…seem to underlie every movement made and every word spoken here.”
Jonathan P. Sims, Ulato Sam, Cedric Joe, and Ahkei Togun – Photo by Cooper Bates
Playwright Ijames said that the play was inspired by the shooting of a 12-year-old by a Cleveland police officer approximately ten years ago – and in fact one of the Black “Paradise” quartet is a teenaged boy who brought a toy gun to the park. Director Gregg T. Daniel has some insightful observations about KILL MOVE PARADISE: “KMP confronts the lethal violence visited all too frequently upon unarmed black and brown bodies. Does the violence occur as a result of a largely white population failing to see the humanity in persons of color? The answers are complex…for me, this is a work largely about transformation (spiritual, physical, mental, psychological, thoughts, attitudes, opinions, etc.)” In 2024, the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble proudly presents the Southern California premiere of KILL MOVE PARADISE, a humorous, uplifting, powerful new drama by Ijames.
Ulato Sam, Ahkei Togun, and Jonathan P. Sims – Photo by Cooper Bates
The setting is a space of transition between life and the afterlife, reminiscent of Elysium. The tale is about four young black men who have been snatched out of their young lives before they knew what was happening. Isa (Ulato Sam) arrives first to this cosmic waiting room, his confusion evident as he surveys the strange unearthly surroundings and his inability to leave – all the while being observed by witnesses watching him (some attentive and some asleep). As Isa tries to engage the audience, it is clear that author Ijames intends to make the fourth wall very permeable indeed. Isa is soon followed by two other confused and reluctant brothers, Grif (Jonathan P. Sims) and Daz (Ahkei Togun), both equally unable – and ultimately unwilling – to grasp the deadly situation. Finally, Tiny (Cedric Joe), the youngest, is tossed into the mix. How long will they be required to wait? What are the lessons which they must learn before they move on? And what is their final destination?
Ulato Sam, Ahkei Togun, Cedric Joe, and Jonathan P. Sims – Photo by Cooper Bates
Daniel helms the play with skill and a profound understanding of the issues involved. The talented cast does a spectacular job of fleshing out these four men – sometimes with poignant emotional outbursts, every now and then with humorous cracks, occasionally with pop song and dance, and from time to time with highly original and even unique responses to the hand they have been dealt. To quote Daniel: “This is a kind of politically motivated theater I haven’t seen in some time.” And don’t forget the unusual setting – a back wall that curves upwards to infinity, occasional earthquake tremors, and intermittent pulsing electric flashes. For a thought-provoking and challenging experience (which also happens to be entertaining), KILL MOVE PARADISE is highly recommended.
Jonathan P. Sims, Ulato Sam, Cedric Joe, and Ahkei Togun – Photo by Cooper Bates
KILL MOVE PARADISE runs through November 3, 2024, with performances at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays (9/25 and 10/16 only), Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025. Tickets range from $20 to $40 Fridays (9/24 and 10/18 Pay-What-You-Can with reservations open online and at the door starting at 5:30 p.m.) For information and reservations, call 310-477-2055 ext. 2 or go online.
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