Monday, July 31, 2017

Chesney Snow's The Unwritten Law Will Make You Think About Your Own Life

I have the privilege of talking to so many people about their lives, their work, and so much more, and every now and then, you will hear a story of someone's life and be filled with so many emotions.  In Chesney Snow's THE UNWRITTEN LAW, Award winning actor, world class beat boxer, playwright, relives some of those painful stories that he shared with me in our interview at Dixon Place.  To hear them again, with even more details complemented with music, dance and projections, takes this dramatic performance art piece to the next level.  I got the chance to talk to Chesney when he first workshopped it back in January while interviewing him during his stint in Broadway's IN TRANSIT.  Click HERE to hear that interview. He spoke a lot about life before performing.  To say that my mouth was agape during our conversation, is an understatement.



Mr. Snow's life journey is truly one of those that needs to be highlighted.  Some might think simplistically about the piece, saying things like "it's the make lemonade out of life's lemons",  or "finding some sense of freedom through the arts",  or even "the struggles of black men, women, and their families", but there is sooooooo much more to it. The people and places that Mr. Snow introduces his audience in this piece reveal the painful journey of his family,  through some of America's more chaotic times when it came to race relations.  Not to give anything away, but because of the turbulent times in Chesney's family history, the title of the show is born.  He even dedicates this show to his grandmother, GG, and his cousin B Fresh. Trust me.  The show will explain why there is such reverence.

Serving "Cat Daddy" Realness with a view: Chesney Snow


Director and choreographer, Rebecca Arends, uses her history of dance to not only augment Chesney's words, but in my opinion, it also helps to enhance the sting of the actual events that he recalls.  Dancer, Winston Dynamite Brown, embodies many of the males in the playwright's history with brilliant physical movement.  A.J. Shaw and Varuni Tiruchelvam add the musical elements with piano and cello elegantly.  Of course, no show with world renowned Human Beat Boxer, Chesney Snow can be complete without dropping a few beats.

Chesney Snow- Dashing Mentor for Rosie's Kids PASSING IT ON 


For the theater fans of large spectacles, or the occasional once or twice a year visit, this might not be the show for you, unless you want to be challenged.  It will require you to be engaged in a way that something like Hello Dolly does not, and as the kids say, "No Tea. No Shade." However, if you are the avid and adventurous theater goer, especially those that see the beauty in performance art, then this show is absolutely something to be included in your theater going cannon.  There are 4 Sunday/Monday performances left.  Click here for more ticket information, and to hear my most recent conversation with Chesney Snow, click HERE. Continue to support live theater wherever you are.

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