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Show !) I THE FORUM - 15 JANUARY 18, 2012 Lonzo Liggins at Mahom X and Terrence Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. S. Johnson as 'fcurtain A company's debut Emilio Casillas Contributing Writer After a ramp, a left turn, a cheery usher and a skip across a music room, I found myself in a small black box theatre, faced with a chess set atop a simple table, center stage. On either side stands a chair. Stage left; a bed; stage right; a small bar and coat rack. As the light dims in the hotel room Melissa Adams steps forward from the audience and introduces herself as cofounder of the EttaGrace Black Theatre Company, and Director of her compa- f $ ! v f lit 7 s vti. ir -j- ny's production of, in conjunction with SLCCs Grand Theatre, The Meeting, by Jeff Stetson. When the lights come up Lonzo Liggins, as Malcom X, is startled from his sleep by a haunting nightmare. His bodyguard, played by Harold DeHorney, is his only company. They anxiously await the arrival of Xs only rival for leader in the Civil Rights Movement: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When he finally arrives, played by Terence S. Johnson, the two greatest figures of the Civil Rights era embark upon a memorable (but fictional) debate on the best approach to the issue of equality. As $ t - .rut: .1. rrmhiiili sUi; siiih.n: i: - tjtim-ii jt? It ti m:u tfcfii vljl. :f: "mi: . ,sttiusi: I m t si -- nIrf - I I f aiy i 4 !i;i: ?i: t f H ( yo o no c 3ft o their polarized philosophies clash, they explore the true scope of an era haunted 3 by fear and hatred. Mr. Liggins Malcom X had all the force of will and brute force of the Civil Rights celebrity. His counterpart, Mr. Johnson, likewise displayed a superb trayal of Dr. King in por- all his disciplined passion and eloquence of the late reverend. Together, their portrayal of what would have been a conversation for the ages left me enthralled, impassioned and inspired for the plight of a community, of a nation. Overall a superb tribute to the Civil Rights era heroes for the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial weekend, Salt Lake has much to look forward to from the EttaGrace Black Theatre Company. ii 't 1 1 fi 'ii I ft vt; t. " ? i iRmtd i ri i I 1 infill i aif: i ii Ti !? t (e. i n;i !! if: ! Iim JP HI , iM ft i i f I ssk u il i t tr ttfi y OO 1 t t i 4 |