Director Deb Keller has added evocative music along with the Nina Simone songs indicated in the script to be played as recordings — but Deb has them sung live by the soulful Ny’kieria Blocker. She has also designed a bold set of lighting projections with Ashray Dravidian that add an overlay of a world out of control to the distressed Brooklyn apartment setting. Her Director’s Note reads like a prayer. Do not miss it.
Ndegwa McCloud is a sympathetic but frustrated father trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter, the hardened and unforgiving Nina (Miah Nash). Trvyn Friar plays Damon, Nina’s partner in crime and more. Creative Consultant Bria Watkins steps into a pivotal role at the end. The intensity and energy of this play is impressive, though there were times it went so fast it was hard to understand all the words.
This is not a show for the faint of heart; it includes a lot of potentially offensive language, including "the N word" and sexual references. It runs about an hour and a half, with no intermission.
Sunset Baby continues Saturday and next week October 4-5 at 8pm at LCC Black Box Theatre
Room 1422 Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Avenue, Lansing 48933
Cost $10 general admission, $5 students, at the door. Tickets available for purchase online at
http://www.lcc.edu/showinfo.
LCC Performing Arts Production Office, 517-483-1122