Directed by Jesse Briton, Messiah, is an explosive new play that dramatises the night 21 year old revolutionary Fred Hampton was assassinated, with Shaq B. Grant giving an impressive performance as the BPP leader. Angelina Chudi gives a very relatable portrayal of his pregnant fiancee Deborah Johnson. The play was written by Jesse Briton and Paula B Stanic.
Bear Trap Theatre, Fringe First winners, Alfred Fagon and award-winner Paula B. Stanic, explore the legacy of the ‘Black Messiah’ who was considered the revolutionary power of young people at the time.
The scene the audience are given is a trial-like reconstruction. Markings on the stage floor show a floor plan of Hampton’s apartment (much like the plan that was given to police officers prior to the dawn raid). The play dramatises the two sides of the story, one from the eye witnesses that were in the house and the other from the Chicago PD, represented by actor Lewis Hart who plays the Police Sergeant. It also gives somewhat of a background into what Hampton was trying to achieve through the telling of events in the hours leading up to his death.
Chicago, 4th December, 1969, 4.45am, there is a dawn raid on the home of 21 year old revolutionary Fred Hampton of the black panthers by 14 Chicago PD on instruction by FBI. The police shot 99 bullets into the apartment. Fred was asleep at the time beside his fiancee Deborah Johnson who was 8 month’s pregnant. He was killed at point blank range. At one point Johnson throw her body over him to protect him.
The play is aptly named Messiah, as J. Edgar Hoover, the head of the FBI at the time was concerned about the “rise of a messiah” within the black power movement. The young handsome and charismatic Hampton had all the makings of one having negotiated non-violence pacts between street gangs, founded free public health clinics, and fed thousands of starving school children.
The FBI placed moles within the BPP. One such mole was William O’Neal (portrayed by Gerel Falconer). He allegedly provided the FBI with a floor plan that showed police where Hampton’s bedroom was. The play shows how he had invented an electrical chair to handle ‘informants’. He allegedly drugged Hampton so he would be incapacitated when police carried out the raid.
Co-commissioned by Stratford Circus Arts Centre and Bernie Grant Arts Centre. In association with Theatre Centre. Development supported by Ovalhouse.
The play runs from Wednesday 27th to 30th of November at Stratford Circus Arts Centre.
