a play by Donald Jolly
One of the hardest things in life for an LGBT individual living in present day 2011 is coming to terms with his or her own sexuality. It's a struggle, no doubt about it. Will I be accepted? Will I be embraced or will doors be slammed in my face? Should I follow my heart or live a life of lies? Now imagine going through these same internal struggles, but this time you find yourself living as a slave in ultra-conservative 1820's Virginia. The internal battles are much more profound, and the consequences that much deeper. Choose to follow your heart and you could be punished by death. Would you still take a stand for your own personal happiness and fulfillment?
"Bonded" is the story of such a situation. Sonny, Lily, and Jack are three slaves living on a farm in 1820's Virginia. Jack, the eldest slave, calls the shots on the farm while the strapping Sonny and beautiful Lily are headed towards a path of matrimony. But in comes Asa... a "house boy" delivered to the farm from New York. At first, the interaction amongst Sonny, Lily, and Asa is tense, but eventually hidden feelings and unbridled desires begin to take form. Sonny must face the internal battles raging within himself. Will he choose to continue towards the accepted path of "jumping the broom" with Lily... or will he embrace his true identity and follow his heart's desire? The end result will be something that many in the LGBT community can personally relate to.
I came to this play not really knowing what to expect. Throughout my life I have read various stories regarding slavery and the barbaric struggles the ancestors of our African-American brothers and sisters had to endure. When I read the premise for this play, however, I was totally engaged. This play, written magnificently by Donald Jolly, is a twist to the historical accounting of slavery. Although many anti-LGBT politicians and critics attempt to mold the LGBT community as a new movement which has up until recently come to fruition, we Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgenders have been in existence for thousands of years. Yes, the story of Sonny, Lily, Asa, and Jack is fiction, however, I am positive this scenario did in fact exist during America's unfathomable period of slavery. The acting by Terrence Colby Clemons (Sonny), Eric B. Anthony (Asa), and Toyin Moses (Lily) is flawless. The actors captivate your attention by meticulously creating a world where your emotions and heartstrings are pulled left and right, up and down like a rollercoaster. Towards the finale of the play I found myself emotionally exhausted, and a standing ovation was the only way we in the audience could let our appreciation known. We were bonded to these characters and their struggles became our own.
Toñito's Rating: A MUST SEE!!!
-Antonio Xzavier Garcia
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WHAT: "Bonded," written by Donald Jolly, directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera.
WHO: Starring Terrence Colby Clemons, Eric B. Anthony, Toyin Moses, and Carl Crudup.
WHERE: Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., LA, CA 90014
WHEN: Now through April 24th, 2011.
LINK/TIX: http://thelatc.org/
Your review was flawless and left me emotionally exhausted...good work!
ReplyDeleteThank you Richie!
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