Drama, music, politics and poetry merge in an intense story of money and corruption in playwright Amiri Baraka’s anti-nuclear jazz opera “Primitive World.”
The play, directed by Sherman Johnson, opens at 8 p.m today at the Lord Leebrick Theatre and will continue with performances on Jan. 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19.
The play “is about two musicians faced with nuclear holocaust,” Johnson said. “Together they try to reconstruct their lives.”
He added that while the play contains the elements of a traditional love story, the focus is the battle between good and evil, where “Good” is literally on one side of the stage and “Evil” is on the other.
“The message is self-determination through whatever station in life you hold,” he said.
Darlene Espinoza Dadras, who plays the evil Sado, described “Primitive World” as a non-linear play that demonstrates the power that money, capitalism and materialism has over society. Sado and Maso, played by Joe Von Appen, attack the innocent, she said, and orchestrate the end of the world.
“It’s schizophrenic,” Von Appen said. “It’s going to take (all) the senses to grasp. It’s sensory overload.”
The story of “Primitive World” is performed against a backdrop of music styles including jazz, folk, blues and African American music, according to Johnson.
“The music is a driving force of the play,” Johnson said. But with so many different sounds, Johnson said he hopes it does not become a “mish mash.”
The play features an original score from drummer/composer Will Calhoun, a two-time Grammy winner for his work on “In Living Colour,” and guitarist/vocalist Peter Mulvey will accompany the recorded score with live music.
Josie Basford, production designer for the play, said from the rehearsals she was very impressed by the talent and energy from the actors.
“(Primitive World) will get people’s heart rates up,” she said.
Baraka — an activist, poet and playwright — is also known as LeRoi Jones. He is giving a free lecture and performance, entitled “Redefining the Dream,” at the University at 11 a.m. on Friday as part of the Multicultural Center’s ongoing events in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.
Baraka, the internationally acclaimed winner of the Obie award for his 1964 play, “Dutchman,” explores the intricacies of race, politics, sex, culture and revolution in his works.
Tickets for Thursday performances are $12 for general admission and $4 for students. Tickets for all other performances are $16.
Mulvey and Baraka will stick around after Friday’s performance for a special post-performance show of live music and poetry, and food and wine will be served as well.
Tickets for the post-performance show may be purchased separately for $15 or together with “Primitive World” tickets for $25. For more information, contact the box office at 465-1506 or the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 346-3479.
E-mail reporter Jen West at [email protected].