By Ariele Vaccaro
Annette Jackson is no stranger to the stage. She’s written a number of plays, but her latest one is a little different.
Jackson’s original play, When a Father Prays, follows a mother, father, and their four adult children as they discover the power of prayer, faith, and unity. For years, the tight-knit family has depended on its matriarch as a line of communication to God.
But as conflict arises, and stable family pillars begin to crumble under the weight of modern day pressures, an aloof father must choose whether or not to step up and pray for his loved ones.
It was Jackson’s relationship with her own father that inspired the story’s premise.
In speaking to some of her friends, Jackson “realized that I had a father in my life, and they didn’t. And my father prayed for me.”
When the family-friendly play hits UWM’s Zelazo Theatre on Saturday, June 6, it won’t be it’s first time on stage.
When a Father Prays has been performed in a number of cities, including Atlanta and Chicago.
It’s even stopped in Milwaukee once before.
Gordon Thunder was part of the play that first time it stopped in Cream City.
He played Omar, one of the family’s four children, the only son, and, as Thunder calls him, a “Bible-thumping play boy” who uses his reputation as a man of God to win over women.
“I think I did what I was supposed to do, because there were some audience members that were upset with me after the play,” said Thunder.
He’ll be playing Omar once again in the upcoming performance.
Charlotte Jones plays one of Omar’s many dedicated and trusting girlfriends, Tara.
Jones is looking forward to audience reactions to a scene during which Tyra meets Omar’s other oneand- only’s.
“Our reactions are very funny,” Jones said.
It’s not just Jones’ character that’s expected to spark laughter in the audience.
Ed, the children’s goofy, lovable uncle who thinks the everyone is fixated with his less-than-shapely body brings a dose of comedic relief.
When a Father Prays isn’t all humor, however. The audience will watch the family grapple with their own demons – literally.
Jackson has enlisted actors to play the dancing demons that drag her protagonists down and pull them in the wrong directions.
“I wanted to visually show what it’s like to have demons attached to you,” said Jackson.
The eldest daughter, Loren, struggles with her own demon throughout the play.
As her job is downsized, she must let go of her pride and learn to ask for help from God and her family.
Kenyetta Hyler plays Loren. As a somewhat reserved person and the eldest child in her family, she said she’s seen a situation much like Lauren’s in her own life.
Among the other siblings are struggles of self-image and unresolved sexual confusion. Ebony, the youngest sibling with the darkest skin tone, feels she’s not beautiful and takes on stripping as a way to cope.
Venus married an attorney and became a trophy wife.
After an incidence of sexual abuse by a family member and years of feeling unappreciated by her husband, she began a new relationship with another woman.
While the children undergo these great inner struggles, parents Faith and Charles begin to panic, wondering what’s become of their once stable family. Matriarch Faith played by Keziah Robinson, begs her husband, played by Terrell Johnnies, to pray alongside her and rely on God.
Jackson emphasizes the power of a father’s prayer throughout the entirety of her play. Why?
She wants men to understand that women are not the only ones with the ability to pray, that they can pray too in any way they know how – and God will hear them.
Thunder agrees and hopes that the play will teach men that their prayers are just as powerful as their partner’s.
“You always hear people say ‘I know my mama’s praying for me. I know my grandmother’s praying for me’, but you never hear people say ‘I know my father’s praying for me. I know my grandfather’s praying for me,” he said.
Together, the struggling siblings’ – Lauren, Omar, Venus, and Ebony – first initials spell out “L.O.V.E.” This theme manifests itself throughout the story, as the family begins to learn what they are capable of by simply reaching out to God.
When a Father Prays will take to the Zelazo Performing Arts Center at UW-Milwaukee on Saturday, June 6 at 7 p.m.
To purchase tickets, please visit www.anajaenterprises.com or call (414)412-9622.
