Volume CXXXI, Number 21 April 12, 2002 f

Ghetto Life debuts at Common Hour
CONOR WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER

The Ghetto Life, by Kevin Robinson '05, received first place in the Philadelphia Young Playwrights Festival. (Karsten Moran, Bowdoin Orient)

Bowdoin first-year Kevin Robinson will direct and play a lead role in a dramatic reading of his original work, The Ghetto Life today, April 12th, during Common Hour. Cast members include Bowdoin students Adnan Prsic '05, Derrick Duplessy '02, Kate Fendler '05, Haliday Douglas '05, Eliztaicha Marrero '04, Kevin Robinson '05, and Bowdoin Coordinator of Multicultural Student Programs Wil Smith.

"I wrote the play…because I felt that America, especially people who do not live in the inner city, needed to see vivid examples of the inner city families' struggles," said Robinson. The piece has won considerable acclaim in several theatrical competitions, winning first place in the Philadelphia Young Playwrights Festival in competition against over 800 other students' plays. In addition, it will be performed at Philadelphia's Center City from May 3 through the 10 by the Philadelphia Theater Company.

The Ghetto Life was also chosen as a finalist in the New York National Young Playwrights Competition. Robinson is currently awaiting further word from the organization; if selected, his play will show on Broadway.

"Right now, I am extremely happy because this weekend I am performing my play…I will be submitting my play to a number of other competitions in the USA," explained Robinson.

The piece is a challenging look at urban America, highlighting issues of racial and social injustice, both on the streets and in the classroom. Robinson drew from experiences from his youth in inner-city Philadelphia and his literary background. He reworked and edited the play last semester as an independent study with Bowdoin Theater Professor Davis Robinson to prepare it for submission to the New York playwrights competition.

The author is also involved in Bowdoin's African-American Society and Student Government. He is interested in pursuing a career in arts and business after his time at Bowdoin, and hopes to major in Economics and Africana Studies.

"Theater gives people the opportunity…challenge their biases and others," said Robinson, "The Ghetto Life gives me the opportunity to voice my thoughts and provoke other people to think."