The first African-American play to take the stage at Bakersfield College will be under the direction of Kimberly Chin.
“Top Dog/Underdog” is a play written by Suzan-Lori Parks, who was the first African-American woman to win the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for drama.
The play will feature two BC students: Deshawn Anton Robert Clark and Stefan Augustus Lambert.
They will play two brothers, Lincoln and Booth, who were abandoned by their parents and now look out for each other, rediscover their past, and look to the future to heal their wounds.
The first play of its kind to be produced at BC, the actors are very excited to be a part of it.
According to Lambert, “I always wanted to do a play at BC, but there wasn’t a part that fit.”
Clark, who stopped acting for a year, is glad to be back in the theater atmosphere.
According to Chin, it has always been one of her goals to have an African-American play at BC. However, it never went through until now.
“I would speak to students to get them motivated, but nothing ever came about it. But now everything is really falling into place,” said Chin.
Although this play is based on two black characters, the drama can relate to all cultures,
“This play is something everyone can relate to. You don’t have to be black to relate to this play,” said Chin.
“This play is real, not stereotypical. It’s beyond stereotype,” said Clark.
The message that is being relayed to the audience has various meanings, and according to Lambert, “Just like the brothers were abandoned, so has the American society abandoned males, and we’re left to our own devices.”
In order to make this play possible, the actors also did research to learn more about their characters, including visiting Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park.
According to Lambert, “It’s the only complete black-owned state park in the world.”
The actors said they learned a lot by just being there.
“It was a part of history we didn’t know about,” said Lambert.
“I had never heard of that town, and, apparently, I have relatives living there,” said Clark.
Chin said that it was a great experience, and, by doing this play, they’re not only learning about theater, but they’re also learning about themselves.
The drama will take place at the BC Indoor Theater Nov. 29 and 30 and Dec.1, 6, 7, and 8. If you have any questions, contact Kimberly Chin at 395-4388.