'Destiny Manifested', a play by James Gillard, grabs the
audience with catchy street slang and forces the audience
to step back and think about urban life. Krisse Hutchinson,
who played a reporter, said she wanted the audience “to
laugh and figure out the message that isn’t spoon
fed.”
The play centers around hip-hop artist MC Manifest, played
by Jonathan “Jas” Anderson, and his interview
with the reporter concerning his new album “Destiny
Manifested.” In an anything-goes conversation, MC
Manifest describes his experience growing up in Harlem,
while the events he talks about become a reality on stage.
In one scene, as the reporter questioned MC Manifest, a
crack dealer, a stripper and a senior tenant entered the
stage to share the experiences they had in Harlem. Together,
this trio demonstrated the influence that hip-hop had in
shaping Harlem. These characters become more complex as
they clearly face the reality of a darker Harlem, a truth
that is not often explored.
“Destiny Manifested brings the young and old, jazz
and hip-hop together, which is very important,” said
director David Sheppard after a recent performance.
In the play, MC Manifest and the senior tenant argue about
which genre of music is best, hip-hop or jazz. As they argue,
the characters slowly realize that the two genres are inseparable:
hip-hop is jazz and jazz is hip-hop. In this combination,
the characters seem to say overall that no matter what your
appearance, gender, style or race, music plays a big part
of shaping who you are.
“This play wanted to look at the last ten years of
hip-hop and deal with drug issues, the gangsta image and
touch on political issues at the same time, to give you
a rapper who doesn’t know the affects he has on people,”
said Gillard.MC Manifest appears completely oblivious towards
the impact he has by preaching about “bitches and
hoes” that represent the image girls try to attain.
The result is that hip-hop fans feel like they have to dress
in the skimpy, revealing style of Lil Kim to be accepted.
Gillard supports this idea with a scene that is a must-see.
A character enters that can only be described as one of
those girls that everyone has seen around the block, with
that tight little red dress, a man on one arm and money
in her other hand. But what this play does for the viewers
is answer how music influences the way these people dress,
act, and talk.
“People will take words I say and interpret it and
think about it and spread a little understanding to people
who are uncertain,” said Jonathan “Jas”
Anderson, who played MC Manifest. “If I could do that
than I accomplished my job.”
In an intense moment, a crack dealer walks on stage, explaining
how he has gained control of an entire city block through
his enterprise. When a drug addict says he cannot repay
the crack dealer, the dealer pulls out his gun and kills
the addict. “ I want to bring awareness, put some
light on dark situations.” Says Jonathan “Jas”
Anderson. “Rappers do have influences and I want to
bring awareness to rappers on how much they affect the community.”
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