By Lisa Panzer
In this utterly provocative multimedia production – part play, part film – we meet Martin Green who has been disfigured with a lye and acid combination that was thrown onto his face while he was asleep. As Martin is interviewed by the film’s writer and director, Ulysses “Butch” Slaughter, it is uncovered that it was Martin’s own brother who did this to him. Shocking? It is difficult not to feel for this victim of familial abuse. Until – until Slaughter begins to pull at the threads of Martin’s story, interviewing family members whose stories of the incident, the events leading up to it and Martin’s background are revealed and deftly woven together to form a very different family fabric.
Is Martin Green an ‘innocent’ victim? Soul searching questions of justice, ethics, family and social issues, drug addiction, mental health and more fomented the audience, making for a stimulating afterwards discussion session with cast member Don Randle and Slaughter.
Don Randle, of The SOURCE Theatre Company which is devoted to developing new works for the African-American community of Denver, CO., gives a monumental live performance as Martin Green. Randle’s rendering is nearly metaphysical as he morphs into the man in the film, delivering mesmerizing monologue accounts via vocal modulation, physicality, attitude, with spectacularly insidious charisma as Green. Just amazing!
The combination of live theater, film and post-show conversation took place at the newly managed Phoenix Bar & Grill (formerly Gatsby’s Bar and Grill) in Aston, PA, made for a truly moving community experience. Kudos to cast, crew and creator.
A graduate of Lincoln University and veteran of The United States Navy Ulysses “Butch” Slaughter resides in Media, Pennsylvania, and is the author of three books, director of various short films and curator of countless critical community forums. Slaughter has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Network and The Dr. Phil Show. He is a 2013 recipient of The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Leadership Award, and is and long-time contributor to the arts and culture communities of Chester, Pennsylvania.
For a short video clip about the film, visit BLACK-FACED LYE.
The film was written and directed by Ulysses “Butch” Slaughter. Click on this link to be notified about future screenings.