Radio Silence: A Word Opera at The Vortex
Written by Ryan E. Johnson   

Tackling racial taboos through theater and free verse.

(l to r) Zell Miller III, Wanda Holland, Ebony Stewart
Photo: Bonnie Cullum
Zell Miller III, popular performance poet and award-winning playwright, returns to the Austin stage with his newest production, Radio Silence, a glimpse into the humor, heart and harshness of Black culture. Told mostly in the form of free verse, and lacking any real cohesive narrative, Miller’s piece is still able to tickle the funny bone, tug at the heartstrings, and elicit a few gasps throughout, as the performance tackles hot button issues such as racism and sexism with unflinching honesty.

 

Though he had major success with his one-man show My Child, My Child, My Alien Child (Austin Critics Table winner in 2007), Miller isn’t taking on this project on alone. Ebony Stewart, who plays the part of Zora—the younger and less experienced female in the play—is an award-winning slam poet, and her skill with words really shines here; Zora’s monologues are some of the strongest in the entire piece. Also joining Miller in this production is Wanda Holland, who is most famous for her 1983-84 performance as Ruth Younger in A Raisin in the Sun, which won her a Best Actress Award from the Drama Austin Circle of Theaters. She returns to theater after an eight-year absence to play the role of Ester, a wise, hardened black woman who helps show the folly of the other characters’ ways. Her wisdom and hardened cynicism is a sharp counterbalance against Zora’s starry-eyed, childlike innocence, and makes for an interesting dynamic in the numerous scenes they play together.

Holland, Miller, Stewart in Radio Silence
Photo: Bonnie Cullum
The play is intense, and not for the faint of heart, with mature language throughout, but Miller does a good job of balancing the gasp-worthy moments with humor, although in certain scenes, you won’t know whether to laugh, cry or be shocked. When the levity hits, it’s often hilarious, with self-deprecating pokes at Black culture, and pop culture as a whole. But Radio Silence also knows when to be serious. There are touching moments where we’re taken back to black childhoods, and shown the sweet innocence and beauty of youth. There are reminders of all the pain and suffering that an entire race and culture has endured for generations. Miller walks the audience through the full spectrum of what it is like to be an African-American in today’s society, warts and all. Throughout the piece, he balances pride by pointing out hypocrisies and biases prevalent in Black society. Miller spends time considering how rap stars are painting Black culture today, harping especially on its chauvinism and sexism. He shows us the dark side behind some of the great Black Americans of the past, not flinching from showing us the whole truth behind some of the country’s favorite singers.

Speaking of singers, the soundtrack to this play is top notch. It features popular artists such as The Jackson Five, Al Green, The Roots, Corrine Bailey Rae, and Kanye West, as well as Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, and The Clash. The music sometimes adds greatly to the humor of the play, such as when the entire casts breaks out into a dance number based upon a Jackson 5 tune. But whether it the mood is humorous, depressing, or shocking, the music always helps to bring home the message.

It’s important to come into this play with an open mind.  Many parts of this play may be downright offensive to some. However, it also has the potential to blow your world-view wide open, which in the end is a very rewarding experience. If you find yourself in need of an enlightening, powerful evening, pick up a ticket to Radio Silence and prepare for such an opening.

Radio Silence is being staged at The Vortex through August 31. Tickets are $15-$30 and are available online.

 

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