On Friday, Lee Hall was filled with theater patrons as well as Florida A&M students for the premier of the Essential Theater’s new play, “Beyond Therapy.”
The all-student show was put on by the Lyceum Series, and inspired much talk at FAMU’s “Set Friday.”
Prudence, played by Bianca Black, was the comedic protagonist of the play. Black along with the rest of the ensemble made the.
audience laugh, contemplate life, and deeply understand everything that goes on in the lives of others around them.
“This is a very funny show,” said Bianca Black, 20, a second-year theater student from Gary, Ind. Black makes her first Essential theater debut, “I think the audience loved the show, there were a lot of jokes,” Black continued. The play began with Bruce, played by Barry James III, and Prudence answering personals ads because they are looking for stable, romantic relationships. Bruce is bisexual and looking for the affection of a woman, despite his male lover, and Prudence is a head-strong woman looking for the comfort of a man.
Dr. Framingham, played by Jelani Miller, plays the sexual aggressive therapist whose eyes are set on making passes and advances towards his patient, Prudence.
Vlad Dorson, 21, a theater student from Miami, played the character Bob, Bruce’s eccentric live-in lover.
“It was hilarious show, a comedy. You saw so many characters with different personalities and the ranges of emotion from happy to sad to crazy to insane,” said Dorson. Many of the laughs shared were because of senior theatre student Markeshia Lure Gorden. She plays Mrs. Wallace, Bruce’s psychiatrist.
“Mrs. Wallace is a warm hearted wacky individual who is very passionate about expression. I believe people enjoyed the plot, because of the jokes, and the characters in the play,” said Gorden.
As the show came to a close, the cast of “Beyond Therapy” was nothing less than phenomenal. The conclusion of the play left the audience wanting more.
“Although at times the play seemed as if it had no direction, there were many good parts that kept me entertained,” said Edward Turner, 20, a second-year psychology student from, Miramar, Fla.