Bleu Inkk (photo by Vanessa Augustin)
Reviewed by Lovell Estell III
Skylight Theatre
Through Oct. 4
It’s a sad reality that countless thousands of our fellow citizens lives are significantly compromised, if not entirely wrecked, once they are convicted of a crime (be it felony or misdemeanor) and incarcerated. This is even truer for the poor and for those who face decades behind bars. But there are also those who, despite the difficulties of shouldering the “ex con label,” do succeed in building meaningful, productive lives.
In her solo show, directed by Anne Kenny, poet/activist Bleu Inkk (formerly known as April Adkins) recounts the story of her life, and how nearly thirty years behind bars helped her find purpose as an artist and realize her own self-worth.
As the play opens, Adkins is seated with her back to the audience in front of a huge video screen, while a voice intones: “April Adkins, you are sentenced to 11 years, 4 months plus two life sentences.” Told in non-linear fashion, Adkins constructs a vivid picture of her younger self growing up in Compton. She recounts the humorous follies of childhood days; the oh-so important ritual of church attendance; hanging out with Eric Wright, aka Eazy –E.; the stress of adjusting to dual households once her parents split up; the deep chasm of emotional and psychological harm caused by rape at 12 years old; the slow entanglement in gang life.
Multiple rejections by the parole board drove her into despair and struggles with addiction, but a gradual turning inward for answers and the freedom and power found in discovering her own value eventually led to her release from prison in 2017. Her final words to her audience pointedly sum it up: “Do not make yourselves small.”
The show runs just over an hour and Adkins packs a lot of storytelling into that short period of time. However, the script needs some judicious trimming and a sharper focus to be really engaging. Malikah Pinder and Angela Bullock fill the roles of different characters throughout.
Skylight Theatre, 1816 ½ N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. Opens Thurs., Sept 25, 7 pm, Fri., 8pm, Sat., Sept. 27, 8 pm, Sun., Sept. 28, 3 pm, Sat., Oct. 4, 4 pm (consult website for added performances). For Free Tickets contact rsvpfoundsuitable@gmail.com Running time: 80 minutes with no intermission.
