I really don't know where to begin with this show, but I can tell you one thing it was something I've never seen before. So I went to Temple U. and met up with my best friend to see the Hip Hop Theatre show "The Seven". Prior to going inside I was expecting a huge auditorium similar to that of Zoellner, but I was 100% WRONG! lol. The spot where the show took place was similar to the Black Box but a little bigger. I felt like I was apart of the show because actors were everywhere. They really engaged the audience in a way that no show I've ever been to has done. From the jump I was sold with the show. The 3 main characters were great! The father, Tydeus, of the two sons, Eteocles and Polynices was a mix between a pimp and James Brown. He showed up with a nice fro and huge sideburns to match, along with a red one piece bell-bottom suit that was lined with zebra strips and he had on the gold platform shoes to complete his phunky fresh outfit. His character was crazy and I swear he said nigga about 200 times through the show..."Save me lil nigga!!" I can't get that line out of my head. The story behind the play was a greek tradegy in where two tight nit brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, were both in line to become King, but the issue was was that only one could be King. So they decided to each rule for a year a piece and Eteocles took the first year, while Polynices left to the forest. Then the father turned the bothers against eachother and blah say blah....but what was hot was the performance of each part because the show was one big concert to say the least. Each line that was spoken wasn't a line but rather a bar or verse. Like when Eteocles became King first they portrayed it as him being a huge rap star, he had on his platinum chains, diamond earrings, fly outfits and even the dearing fans. The interaction between characters was also hot because it was again spoken like rap song. Every character had their own style of rap especially The Seven. Like Capaneous for instant, was one of the Seven and his character was like that of a hardcore, thugged out gangsta. He can out in all black, baggy jeans, dark shades, oversized hoody, bandana scarf around the mouth and a hand gun tucked inside his waste band. It was hilarious. And so his rap was so dope and I was just about how bad ass he was and the one line I remember was, "I'll punch Zeus in the head/ I'm so bad ass I got medusa in the bed." Like every line from every song was hot and you actually forget almost that this play is a greek tradegy. The rest of heros from the Seven were very interesting and there was this sick beat boxer that portrayed the sound of The Seven coming, like that whole its the end of the world back ground music. One of my favorite parts of the play was the fight scence. I thought the scence was going to be about fake blows to the face and all that jazz, but nope the fight scence was like a dance battle. A member from Eteocles side would step out and then a member from Polynices side would as well then they'd go at. To say the least it was hot.
I would have to say the entire and I mean entire show from beginning to intermission to the end was GREAT! I included the intermission because it was as if the show didn't stop for some of the actors grab the audience on stage and they had dance offs, the electric slide going and everything, it was like a party. I would also like to mention the faboulus DJ, Dishona Tatuem, who I think made the show flow so well, and she was probably my favorite. She was the narrator for the entire play and her delievery wasn't boring like that of a Morgan Freedom, narrtor, {no offense, he's a cool dude} but she spoke every line with convection and attitude. Her swagger was flawless for she knew how to say each line and said it so well and comfortably. Not to mention girl can sing!!
The overall show was again a huge success and if I could I'd definitely go again. Attending Hip Hop Theatre plays just became my "thing," and I do hope to attend more.
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