When viewing ‘Running Numbers,’ a stage play written by Ms. Cheyenne Barboza and adapted from Mr. Carvens Lissaint’s poem, ‘Financial Aid,’ you can’t help but feel sympathy for C.J, the production’s main character.
A bespectacled math whiz aiming to pursue higher education, C.J finds himself torn between two worlds: a home life which is quite dysfunctional and void of taxable finances, and a taxing street life which promises quick cash but delivers consistent disillusionment. C.J isn’t built for the street. Rather, his disposition is germane to that of a teacher’s pet. C.J is bright but docile; he appears to not have much of a backbone and yet he’s the backbone of his family. Above all, though, C.J is determined, but to a fault.
Acknowledging that his lush of a mother, who doesn’t want her under-the-table income realized, will be of no help in navigating paperwork and processes for his schooling, C.J turns to the street, and in particular, Kenney, the neighborhood pimp and drug dealer who’s portrayed by Mr. Carlo Campbell, the co-founder of Theater in the X, a Philadelphia company which uses Malcolm X Park, at 51st & Pine, as its stage.
Though Kenny would be the antagonist in this context, Mr. Campbell pushes-back on the idea that the character is the “bad guy.”
“This guy represents a failing system… he doesn’t come out of a void of darkness… he wasn’t born from the bowels of Satan,” Mr. Campbell told me.
Mr. Campbell said Kenny, as a character, is a brilliant dude but that he’s the work that society has to do.
“Society made Kenny,” Mr. Campbell stated.
The decision to produce ‘Running Numbers’ came out a series of readings. Mr. Campbell said when Theater in the X came across ‘Running Numbers,’ it was deemed powerful and timely.
Ms. Barboza, the playwright, finds the partnership with Theater in the X to be strategic.
“It was very important to make it accessible,” Ms. Barboza told me after the August 6th production, which attracted a great audience of mostly neighbors. “I want young, inner-city people to see it.”
Throughout last Sunday’s production, many young black men and boys passed by, stopped and gawked at the acting. Some who’ve seen the play don’t understand, or identify with, the mother character, but others do, Ms. Barboza said.
“She’s real. People have said: that’s my mom! There are so many shades to being black in America,” stated Ms. Barboza, who, after befriending Mr. Lissaint and watching him get rejected from Philadelphia’s University of the Arts, started writing ‘Running Numbers’ in 2011.
The most recent draft of the play was written a month ago, Ms. Barboza revealed. Philadelphia audiences will have two more weeks to, for free, experience ‘Running Numbers’: Sunday, August 13th and Sunday, 20th.
Thanks for reading! Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® and I’m Drumming for Justice!™
—
Join The Good Men Project Community.
“Here’s the thing about The Good Men Project. We are trying to create big, sweeping, societal changes—–overturn stereotypes, eliminate racism, sexism, homophobia, be a positive force for good for things like education reform and the environment. And we’re also giving individuals the tools they need to make individual change—-with their own relationships, with the way they parent, with their ability to be more conscious, more mindful, and more insightful. For some people, that could get overwhelming. But for those of us here at The Good Men Project, it is not overwhelming. It is simply something we do—–every day. We do it with teamwork, with compassion, with an understanding of systems and how they work, and with shared insights from a diversity of viewpoints.” —– Lisa Hickey, Publisher of The Good Men Project and CEO of Good Men Media Inc.
The $50 Platinum Level is an ALL-ACCESS PASS—join as many of our new Social Interest Groups, calls about life in the 21t century, and classes (writing, platform building, leadership, social change) as you want for the entire year. The $20 Gold Level gives you access to any ONE Social Interest Group and ONE Class–and other benefits listed below the form. Or…for $5, join as a Bronze Member and support our mission.
Register New Account
*Payment is by PayPal.
Please note: If you are already a writer/contributor at The Good Men Project, log in here before registering. (Request new password if needed).
◊♦◊
ANNUAL PLATINUM membership ($50 per year) includes:
1. AN ALL ACCESS PASS — Join ANY and ALL of our weekly calls, Social Interest Groups, classes, workshops and private Facebook groups. We have at least one group phone call or online class every day of the week.
2. See the website with no ads when logged in!
3. PLATINUM MEMBER commenting badge and listing on our “Friends of The Good Men Project” page.
***
ANNUAL GOLD membership ($20 per year) includes all the benefits above — but only ONE Weekly Social Interest Group and ONE class.
***
ANNUAL BRONZE membership ($5 per year) is great if you are not ready to join the full conversation but want to support our mission anyway. You’ll still get a BRONZE commenting badge, a listing on our Friends page, and you can pop into any of our weekly Friday Calls with the Publisher when you have time. This is for people who believe—like we do—that this conversation about men and changing roles and goodness in the 21st century is one of the most important conversations you can have today.
♦◊♦
We have calls about these topics 7 days a week! Join us by becoming a Platinum or Gold member. (Click on the graphic for more information about the calls and to RSVP for them.)
♦◊♦
We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
◊♦◊
Photo courtesy of the author.