The Deadly Seven comes to this year’s Capital Fringe Festival through Ten14 Productions. With a great message to send the public, the show needs a serious restructuring in regards to framework and plot. While the show incorporates the Choreography of Steven Wilson and his Oasis Dance Company, which is flawlessly executed and brilliant to watch, it seems wildly out of place interspersed as it currently is throughout the production.
Show’s producer Alyi’nah “SimplyNay” Ford has a really powerful message to spread with the work that she’s putting on, but using the seven deadly sins as a lens and framework seems to dilute the importance of acceptance. The show takes place in a church, of sorts, with a hypocritical pastor preaching that homosexuality is a surefire path to hell. Ford plays a ghost character, Miss Sophia, who was a huge presence in the church during her life, telling it like it is from the other side. God is neither male nor female, god is omni-gender and if Jesus could rise from the tomb then it’s time for we as people to rise out of the closet. It is a powerfully profound message of acceptance that really should be heard.
The dancing is amazing, featuring eight different dancers from the Oasis Dance Company under the direction of Steven Wilson, we see a hybrid fusion of modern and pop dances as well as ballet and more classical tracks. The dances are meant to be experienced in-between each of the speeches of the seven deadly sins. (At this particular performance two of the speeches were not delivered due to last minute emergencies.) However, the speeches that were delivered are not always clear as to which sin they relate to, and often they do not relate to the overarching GBLT acceptance issue.
The premise is confusing, which is a true shame because the message is powerful: accept everyone because God accepts everyone no matter who they are and who they love. With a restructuring, this show has a great deal of potential. It also features the soulful gospel styling of Blair Dottin-Haley, a stunning vocal power who truly sings from the depths of his heart when it comes to acceptance and love.
Running Time: Approximately 70 minutes.
The Deadly Seven plays through July 26, 2013 at The Warehouse— 645 New York Avenue NW, Washington DC. For performance times and to purchase tickets visit the show’s Capital Fringe Page.
