The results of the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case were fresh as the crew of The Deadly Seven took the stage. Fresh enough to make its way into The Deadly Seven, a show about prejudice and marginalization, both in the black and the LGBT community.
I ask your indulgence, as I don’t have an actor list. One did not exist, so far as I could tell. I also ask indulgence because this wasn’t a show, in the traditional sense (one with plot et. al.), nor was it something that seemed made to be reviewed. Unless you can review raw emotion.
The structure was apparently spontaneous. Mostly, it was monologues broken up by dance numbers with a thinly connected story throughout about a bi-sexual preacher who ignores her own feelings (or turns them into anger against the LGBT community).
The monologues were uneven and often felt underwritten. This isn’t a bad thing, necessarily, but it can be confusing. One character is either dead and in heaven or has died and come back to Earth. She often interrupted monologues with comments about them or comments about what the Lord on High thinks of things taking place on the stage (these comments generally surround the aforementioned preacher).
The Deadly Seven
by Andre’ Crews
70 minutes
at Warehouse
645 New York Ave NW
Washington, DC, 20001
Details
Trayvon Martin had a monologue dedicated to him, which was clearly written within 24 hours. Not because the monologue was bad in any way, but because the verdict had just come in. The speaker stumbled a few times, but she was mostly spitting vitriol and did so with intensity.
The dance numbers themselves were impressively choreographed, credit for which belongs to Michael A. Houston II. At first, it seemed like the dances represented the seven deadly sins (a callback to the title), but most seemed to be representing lust. They did so graphically and, like everything else on the stage, with supreme intensity. We watch as the dancers kick, twerk, spin and pantomime oral sex on one another.
Overall, it’s hard to say exactly what The Deadly Seven was about. Here’s an attempt: It felt like a variety show with a loose thread throughout, but at least that thread was clear: whoever you are, you’re a child of God. Be true to yourself, and you should be fine.
The Deadly Seven was performed once; the final two stagings were canceled. No information is available on the reason for cancellation.
Editor’s note: Our reviewer did attend the show. A press ticket was issued so his name would have been on their list. We tried to reach this writer, but this writer, but the email address given was bogus. Anyone wishing to reach me about this production can email [email protected]
I’m pretty sure this review is bogus– you didn’t even see the show. We had one reviewer- A FEMALE- who spoke with the producer the night we did run the show– and that was the only press person there and on the list.
THAT SAID– FIRST OF ALL- we did not do no Treyvon Martin monologue. We asked the audience for a moment of silence. At the top of the show. Which had you been there- which you weren’t- you would know.
You clearly did not understand the message that went into this- and if you had been there you would have heard the preacher- as you keep calling her- announce each of the sins before the dances. So there was nothing to be confused about- unless of course you didn’t see the show and are just making up some bs.