Black lives matter. It’s a phrase that shouldn’t need to be said, but it’s a phrase that should be shouted and embodied. A phrase that needs to be felt.
Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers is an heartfelt tribute for all the Black men who have unnecessarily lost their lives, especially in the States, but our country is not immune to deep prejudice. Our country has the same issues, it’s Indigenous people who are discarded without thought.
This production is co produced by Handsome Alice Theatre and Verb Theatre and is a Tarragon Theatre production. Solo artist, Makambe K. Simamba wrote and stars in the piece. It tells of 17 year old ‘Slim’, who finds himself in the afterlife, and tries to find his way through.
This play reaches into your body, through your heart, and oozes through your skin. As you get to know Slim, you understand that you’re going to have to witness his death. This is the purpose of this show. You need to bear witness. Everyone needs to bear witness. Art is meant to change minds, art is meant to ignite love through storytelling, art is meant to move the needle on these inherent beliefs that society holds. This is all of that, wrapped in a solo performance that is soft and edgy, brave and vulnerable, and is so heavy to carry.
Simamba transforms on stage, she is the young man that is Slim, the little brother who just wants to go to the movies, the toddler brother who can’t hold back his tears. She is the father who is trying to have his family live to be adults, the mother who is praying that her boy will come home. Simamba’s performance is gripping and hypnotic. When she gets to the portion of the show where she lists name after name of those killed in violence, portraying each character differently, it is memorizing and harrowing.
Director Donna-Michelle St. Bernard is wise in having the play have very quiet moments but allows the narrative to keep pace, so that it doesn’t lose the audience. Set and video design by Trevor Schwellnus is almost another character on stage with Slim. It fills in the gaps that Slim can’t fill in for us. Music is a big part of this show and is also a tribute to those who have tried to change the narrative through rap and hip hop.
Come see this show. It is so hard to bear witness to traumatic things in this world, especially when it’s easier to look away, to avoid hearing the stories. But listen to Slim’s story, told with courage by Simamba, allow it to enter your body, and lend your voice. Black lives matter.
Handsome Alice Theatre and Verb Theatre’s presentation of a Tarragon Theatre Production of Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers runs until September 28th. More information and tickets are available online.
Photo Credit: Cylla von Tiedemann