TAKING A STANZA.Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Writer Having been versifying in the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. underground poetry scene since the early 1990s, Malcolm-Jamal Warner already knows there's an audience for spoken word and poetry. But whether there's also a market for spoken word evolved into theater, Warner -- opening a solo theater piece with music at the Assistance League Playhouse -- is about to find out. "Being in L.A., it forces me to be even more honest," says Warner, best-known as Theo Huxtable on the long-running 1980s sitcom "The Cosby Show." "Because at the end of the day, however people feel about the show, I know I've got to be proud and be comfortable of the work it takes to put this show on. "And the more honest I am with the show, the more comfortable I'll be in my skin, no matter what anybody says," he continues. The show in question is titled "Love & Other Social Issues." Warner, 36, of Studio City, is both its author and sole performer. Although he has a jazz funk Funk , Casimir 1884-1967. Polish-born American biochemist whose research of deficiency diseases led to the discovery of vitamins, which he named in 1912. band backing him, these are different musicians than the ones he fronts with the group Miles Long. "Love" developed out of Warner's work in the city's poetry scene and covers such territory as inner-city life, drug culture, love and self-esteem self-esteem Sense of personal worth and ability that is fundamental to an individual's identity. Family relationships during childhood are believed to play a crucial role in its development. . The New York-born actor's manager and mother, Pamela Warner, had long encouraged him to develop a book or a stage piece out of his poetry. "I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if I was too intimidated in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. by the idea, but she kept on me about it," says Warner. "Then she got Denise (Dowse dowse 1 also douse intr.v. dowsed also doused, dows·ing also dous·ing, dows·es also dous·es To use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals. ) in it, so I started getting it in stereo See stereophonic. ." Dowse, a longtime long·time adj. Having existed or persisted for a long time: a longtime friend; a longtime resident of Detroit. longtime Adjective friend and Warner's acting coach, helped Warner shape the piece into a more fully realized theatrical evening. "I think he found things within his poetry that he didn't realize he had said or what his intention behind it was," says Dowse. "It's grown a lot as we've both grown as artists and humans. So it speaks even a different language than it did four years ago." "Love & Other Social Issues" premiered at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C. They returned to the same festival two years later and hope to eventually tour. "It's definitely a socially relevant, socially conscious piece," Warner says. "I know people are going to like it, but you know there are always going to be people who take potshots for whatever reason." Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson@dailynews.com LOVE & OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES Where: Assistance League Playhouse, 1367 N. St. Andrews Place, Los Angeles. When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday Sunday: see Sabbath; week. ; through July 8. Tickets: $30 to $37.50. (323) 960-7784. www.plays411.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Malcolm-Jamal Warner wrote and performs in "Love and Other Social Issues," his solo show opening June 1 at the Assistance League Playhouse in Los Angeles. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer |
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