I’m very much in the mood to stick to revolutionary Black playwrights. So, I will. I started off this week with my main man, Tarell Alvin McCraney. Now it’s time to bring it home. On this day BRTW salutes Marcus Gardley.

Marcus Gardley, whose name is eponymously linked to Marcus Garvey’s, was born in Oakland, California. His mother was a nurse and his father a minister. Young Gardley had never even seen a live play before he was of college age, and attended San Francisco State University. Gardley was very interested in poetry which is quite evident if you’ve ever picked up any of his plays. He wrote poetry and many of his professors noticed that his poetry often incorporated elements of playwriting. Legend has it that Gardley vehemently refused these “critiques” of his poetry and resisted the urge to try playwriting. Well thank God that he eventually caved in.

I was first introduced to Marcus Gardley’s work fairly recently. My partner had a copy of his play, The House That Will Not Stand and insisted I read it. I was in-between reads anyway so it was perfect timing. I was touched by his poetry.

Moved by his depictions of Black lives, Black pain and Black triumph. The way he weaves the naturalism of Black struggle in with the surrealism attached to Black Folklore, superstition, and spirituality is seamless. I was instantly captured. I devoured the play and was addicted, on a destructive course for more of his work. After some additional research into his plays and upcoming events I came across New Victory’s showing of Julius Caesar X. I first heard about that play as an actor looking to audition, but when I found out that Gardley was pinned to write it, I lost my God-fearing mind. Julius Caesar X is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, but re-told as the story of Malcolm X and the Nation Of Islam. Now, as a huge fan of Shakespeare, Malcolm and Marcus, you best believe I bought my tix ASAP! Marcus fearlessly traverses race, society, and Blackness in his plays, using, realism, surrealism, poetry, and an adept ability to re-envision myths and historical storytelling. His work is a must have amongst the culturally sensitive, politically aware, and socially conscious artists and activists alike.

P.S.

Tix are still on sale for Julius Caesar X at New Victory Theatre in Manhattan. It begins in March 2017. Hop to it!
Jovan Davis

Producing/Ensemble Member

 

[wdi_feed id=”1″]