Purdue News
Purdue News
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February 4, 2000 'The Gathering' sheds light on the African-American man's lifeWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – One Saturday while getting a shave at his local barber shop, Will Power was inspired to write "The Gathering: A Hip Hop Journey to the Meeting Places of Black Men." Power, a playwright, rapper and actor, will perform his theatrical creation at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, in Fowler Hall, Stewart Center, as part of the Black Cultural Center's 2000 Cultural Arts Series. Admission is free. As Power listened to African-American men swap stories, debate and laugh in the barber shop, he realized the importance of such gathering places for support and enlightenment. From the barber chair to the harsh reality of the streets, Power introduces us to intense and humorous characters who give perspective to the various struggles and pitfalls they must face each day as they strive to survive. In his attempt to identify those pitfalls and destructive forces – crack cocaine, AIDS, racism and police brutality – Power brings his black men together in a variety of settings where they traditionally communicate and interact. Power also attempts to shed light on the sometimes shady aspects of the rap music industry, as he takes us into the life of M.C. Ray, a young man who hopes to make it big in the music business. As Ray listens to his father's old jazz records, he tries to infuse them with his hip-hop music to create a new sound. In another scene, the street provides a realistic and haunting backdrop for Baby Troy, a rage-filled, drug-dealing thug. Troy is visited by three dead spirits from his past who met tragic and brutal deaths as a result of life on the streets. The spirits warn Baby Troy that death, too, awaits him unless he releases his own rage and changes his life. "The Gathering" blends hip-hop lyricism, African-American folklore and innovative musical and rhythmic sound distortion techniques. Power performs all of the play's characters and has adapted the lyrics to be written and interpreted as each character would say them. The entire script is in verse, giving it the feel of urban poetry. CONTACT: Renee Thomas, BCC director, (765) 494-3091, rathomas@hfs.purdue.edu
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