Known throughout Detroit
for his on-air work as one-half of the Hot 102.7 FM Dynamic Dou of Hip-Hop,
Kamal ‘Kontact” Smith wants to be equally known for his other life passion:
theatre.
After two sellout shows at the Northwest Activity Center in
March, Smith -- through his entrainment brand A Lynn’s Boys’ Production -- is
bringing his original play “Pictures on the Mantle” back to the Paul Robeson
Theatre for an encore performance
this Mother’s Day weekend.
According to the 29-year-old director and writer, “Pictures”
is a story that focuses on three young married couples who run a gambit of
problems ranging from communication, intimacy to emotional and verbal abuse
issues -- and their efforts to make their relationships better.
“It’s a play about three newlywed couples going through the
challenges and joys of a new marriage, says Smith, who also acts in the production. He says his motivation for creating the play
is to help people gain a better appreciation and understanding of their
relationships while having fun at the theater. And, according to response
received from the debut, the play is working.
“People would come and tell me that the play changed their
marriage or that they see their significant other differently now,” Smith says.
“To me, that’s the whole point -- that people leave different and more
empowered than when they first came in.”
Lynnette Patrick, a veteran thespian who started her
performance career in 1993, says the play is a success due to the realistic
portrayal or matrimony and relationships.
“Everybody goes through the same situations.”
Dez Crenshaw, who plays the role of an intimacy-deficient
spouse in the production, says the basic storyline is true to the original
script but cautions that those who’ve seen the debut should brace for new
twists in the encore.
“You see plays where people stay on (character) -- we do the
exact opposite,” says Crenshaw, referring to the way cast-mates improvise lines
not in the script to keep the audience and their fellow actors “on their toes.”
“[If] You can’t have fun with something, why do it?”
Crenshaw says.
Smith says the encore production, in many ways, is an
affirmation of a step in faith he made a week before the show’s March debut.
Just days before the premiere, Smith was informed by his “Big 3” employer that
he was among hundreds of employees to be laid-off.
Facing a decision on whether to scrap the play and save
money or go ahead with the production, Smith said the lay-off was a sign to
pursue his dream.
“Sometimes when we get a check every two weeks we become
complacent, not fully going out and putting it on the line,” Smith says, who
assures audiences that his work is different from another well-known actor and
playwright who focuses on relationships, Tyler Perry.
“I don’t want to be the next Tyler Perry. I want to be the
first Kamal Smith.”
The encore performance of “Pictures on the Mantle” will take
place at 8 p.m. on May 9 and May 10 inside the Paul Robeson Theatre located at
the Northwest Activity
Center located on 18100 Meyer Road in Detroit.
Tickets are available
at the activity center for $10 or $15 the day of the show.
Contact Kamal Smith
for more information at (313) 574-5291 or via e-mail at kontact313@gmail.com.
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