The Alive Theatre premiered Stephen Adly Guirgis’ play “In Arabia We’d All Be Kings” Aug. 21.
The Expo Furniture Warehouse in Long Beach became New York City once the bright lights slowly revealed the stage: graffiti walls, crushed bottles, a garbage dumpster, a lifeless tree with dried-up, a bar and a rusty beat-up jukebox.
The characters are pushed to their limits in the New York City slums they call home: they live among us, they breathe, walk right by us, they’re human. It’s a corrupt city filled with prostitution, drug junkies, drunks, lost adolescents and crime. Here, nothing good ever seems to happen.
Life’s tough for the tormented characters in the distressing play: Lenny (Frank Stasio) a temperamental, heavyset man fresh out of jail deals with unemployment and struggles to rekindle a romance with Daisy (Tracey Ali); SKANK (Andrew McReynolds), who never reveals his real name, is a troubled young adult who aspires to be an actor, but is held back by his addiction to crack.
“They’re kids but they’re not kids,” Guirgis said about some of the play’s characters. “They’re dead but don’t know it.”
Cal State Long Beach theatre student Bri Price plays the role of Demaris, a young rebellious daughter whose tough outlook on life has deprived her from a childhood and a loving connection with her mother Miss Reyes (Brenda Banda). Price’s hard effort and passion shows vicariously through her character, who seeks a better life for her son all while putting herself at risk to the dangers of life on the corner. The actors deliver an outstanding performance that easily communicates humor, anguish, discouragement and desperation.
“When you’re younger you take in a lot,” Guirgis said in an open Q&A panel. “You grow and hopefully you reach a certain age and you get a little smarter, a little wiser and you take care of yourself better and not find a party every night, because [life’s] not a party every night.”
Although this three-act play is filled with hardship, real-life issues and turmoil, there’s comic relief throughout that tones down the tension building up between the characters.
Director Jeremy Aluma gave the 1990s-based play a modern touch by adding a live soundtrack by artists such as OutKast and Jay-Z, all sung a cappella by Aurora Nibley, Omar Rodriguez, Janna Phillips, Raymond McFarland and Alicia Simmons. The music works beautifully in connecting the audience with the characters’ experience.
Guirgis’ expectation is for the audience to be provoked, moved and to leave with something from the performance. It’s a drama filled with violence and makes the audience cringe at certain scenes. perhaps even get them in touch with their emotions as the character’s lives fall apart.
The actors’ portrayal of the characters, from their wardrobe to the way they carried themselves, along with the contribution of everyone who took part in bringing the story to life makes the dramatic play worth watching.
The wonder and grit of the play “In Arabia, We’d All Be Kings” runs until Sept. 12 every Friday and Saturday evening at 8 p.m. General admission is $15, students and seniors pay $12. Closing night, followed by an after-party, is $20.
For skeptics or those low on cash, check out the play on Aug. 29 during the pay-what-you-can special. For more information browse www.alivetheatre.org.
