Duo entertain with passion

By Jimmy Chai, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, October 12, 1998

Yamir Jones and James Claybrooks, two Cal State Long Beach students, took destiny into their own hands Thursday night by producing the second "Artistic Review" in the University Student Union Small Auditorium.

The two entertainers showcased their individually written plays as well as performances by undiscovered talent. While many entertainers await to be discovered into show business, Jones and Claybrooks, who debuted the show last semester, took the least traveled road and put their ideas on stage, where they displayed their passion to entertain.

The show consisted of several plays written by Jones and Claybrooks, which were inspired by everyday life experiences, Jones said .

"The Truth About Men and Cheating," one of the plays written by Claybrooks that discusses the idea that only some relationship-bound men will cheat even though all of them want sex, was inspired by a magazine article and an episode of "Oprah."

But the road to the stage has not been easy for the two. School work and 40 hour-a-week jobs made their path to the stage a difficult journey and the added production work reduced their sleep to a minimum.

Between the two, Jones and Claybrooks had to write the plays, cast the actors, book the auditorium, design, make and pass out fliers, said Claybrooks.

"It was a good experience," Jones said. "We are more organized [than from last semester's show]."

But unforeseen production obstacles created road blocks for the duo.

A stressful barrier that confronted them was the stage or lack thereof.

The small auditorium lacks a curtain that Jones and Claybrooks needed to show the illusion of serenity, which without would reveal to the audience the backstage chaos. Student Union officials denied several requests for a new curtain, Claybrooks said.

The officials would not let Jones and Claybrooks use the fall down projector as a replacement, Claybrooks said .

So the role of stage designer and tailor was added to their repertoire as they bought pieces of fabric and sewed them together to create a sail-size curtain.

With less than a week to go, the show began to fall into place.

On show night, the voice of Ophelia Harper Claybrooks set a peaceful mood with "Cease the Day."

The stage was set in a cafe atmosphere. Cast members sitting in chairs circled Ophelia as she grazed her finger along the piano.

But the show would not pan out smoothly for the duo. By the third show, the curtain that was held to the sides with duct tape ripped from the walls, making it difficult for the two to open and close the curtain.

The hanging piece of fabric, which became reminiscent of the "Little Rascals" stage curtain, diverted the center opening to the side.

The issues tackled in the plays were universal at all levels. "Love TKO," written by Claybrooks, illustrated a girl in a physically abusive relationship with a jealous boyfriend. But the climax took a twisted turn when the girl pulled out a gun and shot herself in the head.

The audience reacted with mixed reaction.

"I thought they were uncomfortable with the dramatic part [of the show]," Jones said. "So, they laughed."

Jones' "Community Service," whose characters include a mother, an angry teenager and a nerd, takes place during a day of picking up trash for community service.

While some parts were actor-driven humorous, Jones tackled subjects of growing pains, family values and taking for granted the pain and heartache parents go through to provide for their children.

Along with the production of the plays, the duo also opened the doors for others like Victoria Dela Garza, who gave a poetry reading and "Universal Soldiers" featuring Zhar, Terrance, Eric and Derrick, who rattled the auditorium by rapping the song "Underground with no ceiling."

Jones and Claybrooks have come a long way since their high school days of singing in their musical group.