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Remarks of John Malpede, artistic director[Researcher’s note: In the post-show panel, audience members were encouraged to join the discussion. To a person, the most vocal were the LAPD ensemble members, many of whom consider themselves to be forgotten casualties of the War on Drugs. The panel's experts reported being not only engaged, but educated by their dialogue with the outspoken and sometimes eloquent Skid Row resident/LAPD members. In those post-show discussions at least, LAPD's ability to give voice to the voiceless was undeniable. Although I was unable to record the ensemble members' questions, statements and discussions with the panel, LAPD artistic director John Malpede, who was on the panel, here answers a question from the audience. Malpede's passion typifies that of all the ensemble members who spoke. At least two of the three organizations mentioned —Downtown Musician's Alliance and Artist's in Recovery — are both founded by formerly homeless persons. – F.L.] John Malpede: People that have spoken today are in the show, like Alexander, who's in Artists In Recovery, or Tony Parker, one of the active people in the Downtown Musician’s Alliance, where a lot of the artists who live here are also working with other people who live in the neighborhood to teach them music, to create music, to perform music. [The actor playing the role of] Mr. Hitz, actually when he’s not being Mr. Hitz, he’s very active in C.A.N., which is an activist group in the neighborhood that’s dealing with quality-of-life issues [like] the private security forces that have been hired in the neighborhood and how they sometimes go off and go beyond the law in enforcing private property rights to the detriment of people who live here. They’re also looking at what’s happening with this neighborhood – you know, the very elastic definition of "affordable housing." They’re suddenly going from housing for people who previously didn’t have any housing to like "affordable housing" for people who can afford 1200, 13, 14, $2,000 a month. So, this is really the untold story that’s happening right here, and I guess maybe I am succeeding now in finally getting back to your question, because the people who are involved in these efforts are re-knitting a fabric that has been torn, that the drug war and other aspects of the total uncaring society have ripped asunder. People have come and they’re recreating community right here and that’s really what’s going on here. That’s the important thing. [Audience applauds.] Ferdinand Lewis is a founding member of The Ghost Road Company, an educator, writer and theater artist. He is currently at work on two books: "Ensemble Theater: An Anthology" and "Ensemble Theater: Traditions, Approaches, Strategies." He lives in Los Angeles. |
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