Playwright and author of the book "Do Platanos Go With Collard Greens", discusses his plays "Platanos and Collard Greens" & "Auction Block To Hip Hop", along with politics,and race.
1.What inspired you to become a playwright?
(Photo of David Lamb:Courtesy of Doolee.com)
That's a good question. Initially I was looking for someone else to adapt the book into a play. I was approached by a Columbia graduate who wanted to do it, but what really happened was when I would speak at schools the students were like you should adapt this to a play and I was like yeah whatever. As time went on that planted a seed in my head. I guess I had been thinking about it for so long when I did it wasn't really hard. The one piece of advice that I had gotten from a playwright that turned out to be very helpful till today. "The play has to be much smaller in terms of characters and ideas you were trying to deal with the book." I decided to focus on Hunter, and their relationship. I think that worked out really well. I guess I'm a chicken as a writer; you can write a play that is straight serious and people can like it, but you don't know if they like it because they are not reacting. My own fears make me add a lot of humor even when I write about serious stuff so I can tell if they are liking it, but I think it works out well because its very funny even though it's serious. I updated it and added a lot of poetry some of it is in the book.
2.How did you come up with the name “Platanos and Collard Greens for your first play?
The name came as a flash of inspiration. It is a metaphor for the cultural history and interaction between the two groups.
3.So you previously wrote a book titled, Do Platanos Go With Collard Green, which served as the basis for your play “Platanos and Collard Greens which explores racial stereotypes, and race relations right? How did you go about researching material in order to write the book ?
It was a mix of life experiences. I also interviewed couples. I did a lot of research into the history of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, in the form of viewing documentaries, reading books,and watching certain movies.
4. In your play "Platanos and Collard Greens” the storyline is centered around the relationship between two Hunter College students, a African American male and a Dominican woman and how they struggle to understand each other’s cultures, and working against racial stereotypes. Were you able to incorporate any of your own experiences as a college student into the play?
The play grew out of my experiences growing up in New York City. I grew up in Astoria Queens in Astoria Housing Projects, which was a mixed African American and Puerto Rican community. My high school was also very mixed, African American and Latino, and as a student at New York University (NYU) School of Law, the Black Law Student Association and the Latino Law Student Association had very close relations. Also I worked as an intern for Assemblyman, now Congressman, Jose Serrano, in my last semester of college. Also the play takes place at a college in NYC and I attended Hunter College.
5. Now you have showcased “Platanos and Collard Greens at colleges around the US, why did you feel it was necessary to reach the college audience?
When I would tour colleges speaking about the book, it was actually the college students who suggested that I turn the book into a play. They wanted to see it enacted on stage.
6. What message would you like the audience to receive from your play “Platanos and Collard Greens?
The play especially touches African Americans, Caribbean folks, and Latinos, and appeals to every generation, from grandmothers to granddaughters from mothers to sons, plus its a great date play. And women really relate to the strong female characters, including the intelligent and beautiful black woman. I hope it makes our audiences laugh, makes them think and inspires them all at the same time.
7. You also have a play called “Auction Block To Hip Hop”, can you tell us a little more about it?
Auction Block to Hip Hop is foremost a love story between Black men and women. It is an in-your-face, hysterical, hip hop love story between a conscious and beautiful filmmaker and a hip hop mogul. With timeless lessons Auction Block will make you laugh and stand up and cheer.
On the night Hip Hop mogul -- "Set Fo' Life" wins numerous awards for his multi-platinum album 'Pimpin' Ain't Easy' three ancestors pay him an unexpected and unwelcome visit that will change his life. Sit back and join him on this journey from slave rebellions to Black Panthers to Barack Obama. From conscious Hip Hop to Gangsta' Rap, from b-boys breakdancing in the streets to owning our own record labels, from Queens to Video Girls its all here.
In the end Set must choose between redemption and damnation, between selling out or being true to the woman he loves and the legacy of his heroic ancestors.
8. In your plays you explore stereotypes in relation to African Americans as well as other cultures, so now that Barack Obama is in office how do you feel his presidency will influence how African Americans are portrayed in the media?
I think that the image of Michelle and Barack is extremely powerful. But we have to be very careful not to be deluded into thinking that our struggle is over.
9. What can we expect from you in the future?
A continued evermore successful run of the show!
No comments:
Post a Comment