By Graciano Clause
After runs at the Public Theater in Lower Manhattan and on Broadway, as well as a film adaptation directed by Spike Lee, the satiric comedy-drama rock musical “Passing Strange” has made its way to the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City.
Written by singer-songwriter and playwright Mark Stewart, who goes by the name “Stew,” “Passing Strange” tells the story of a young African-American artist from Los Angeles.
Over the course of the play, Youth (Jehan Havé), a character based on Stew himself, goes on a artistic journey of self-discovery through Europe.
When it was produced on Broadway in 2008, “Passing Strange” racked up seven Tony nominations, including one for Best Musical. It took home the trophy for Best Book of a Musical.
Stefanie Sertich is directing the play and is also the show’s choreographer. Her approach to directing the show required finding theater majors who would be hooked educationally, spiritually and artistically to the show.
“My concept is different than the original one in terms of the narrator’s role,” Sertich said.
In the original production of the play, Stew performed the role of Youth. “How can someone else ever be the essence of the writer, storyteller?” Sertich asked herself before reaching the conclusion that since the play’s themes are universal, “this is relatable to everyone.”
Act I begins on a Sunday morning in South Central Los Angeles in 1976. This is where Youth, leading a comfortable middle-class life with his mother (Aliayah Murchison), begins his journey. After deciding that he can’t withstand the constant battles with his mother, who is continually bringing down his dreams as an artist, Youth’s life takes on a nomadic approach. He leaves for Amsterdam to find his role in life. From here on out, the play keeps returning to the theme of leaving home.
In putting together the production, Sertich says she tapped into her excitement for both the audience and for Queens itself.
“I am lucky enough that I get to pick the shows I want to direct at LaGuardia,” Sertich said. “The students deserve something they can really dig their heels into and I hope it will make lasting impressions on them!”
In the second act, which brings a more free, vibrant, welcoming tone, Youth has “broken the chains” and escaped from his past life, where he felt like a stranger in his own skin. In Amsterdam, he meets Renata (Ewa Koziol), an abstract artist and cafe waitress, along with a few other casually enlightened individuals. At this point in the play, the music becomes looser and more powerful, with songs like “We Just Had Sex” sung by the whole cast in a romantic setting. The search for the “real” while performing for European audiences who have a stereotypical view of a black man takes place alongside his quest for love. Amsterdam plays an ironic role because it is said to be a place where people want to be free with people in search of a high time—figuratively and literally due to the cannabis smoking, which is legal there.
The rest of Act II brings in the sounds of heavy metal music, as Youth heads to West Berlin during the years when the east and west sides of the city were still separated by the Berlin Wall. There, he meets artists who are plotting to bring down mainstream media.
This play about music and life uses its personal, autobiographical story to take the audience on a musical exploration of identity crisis, youth angst, and the pervasive effects of stereotypes.
If you Go
“Passing Strange”
When: Through May 21
Where: LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, 31-10 Thomson Ave., Long Island City
Cost: $10/general, $8/students
Contact: (718) 482-7206
Website: www.lpac.nyc
