Some of you may remember the play “Free Base Ain’t Free” written by Oakland’s John Ivey.
The purpose of this play is to educate as well as entertain the communities, by using a series of vignettes showing life like examples of how the use of freebase cocaine negatively affected their lives, dramatizing it by intertwining dialogue and poetry through the use of a narrator who is seen by the audience but not by the actors.
John Arthur Ivey’s message depicted the psychological power it has on the subconscious mind, how it breaks down a person’s will power, changes his social standards, and finally takes away the user’s self-esteem.
The intention is to inform adults and to deter young children form ever starting. The solution expressed as only you can change a freebase fate take control of your life before it is too late, cause
“Free Base Ain’t Free”
Free Base March
There was an Anti-Drug protest march of East Bay youth throughout Oakland that culminated with a Special Presentation of the play featured in the Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) 24 April 1989, Mon· Page 9
SIGNING “Can’t You Feel a New Day” about 100 youngsters from the drug-ridden Acorn housing project paraded about a mile yesterday through Oakland streets to attend an anti-drug play. The children, who walked to Beckett’s a nightclub in Jack London Square, were guests at a free performance of “Free Base Ain’t Free” a play with a strong message about the dangers of crack cocaine use. “It’s just like a field trip for them” said Darrell Hampton, a counselor at the Acorn Community Center. “I told the basketball team to get the dance group and the dance group to get the kids that hang out at the park,” Hampton said of the recruitment effort that quickly mushroomed as word spread about the performance. The children were treated to popcorn and soda. “They can mess up your life” said 10-year-old Kim Stephany of drugs. The performance was sponsored by KidsCorp, a nonprofit group assisted by Hayward Nissan/Chrysler Plymouth.
I, Abdul-Jalil Co-Executive Produced it and performed a Starring DOU role of Characters in the play as:
1) OMEN: In his forties. Ex-Millionaire, out of shape and hair unkept.
2) Chuck: Professional baseball player-pitcher. Strong athletic build, in his mid-twenties.
It was a very challenging opportunity to portray an aging ex-millionaire in his 40’s at the same time being a young, rapping, strapping athletic 20 year old Baseball pitcher at the top of my game! I was able to do so because I am VERY close to those ORIGINAL characters the parts were developed from and know them in REAL LIFE!
PROGRAM
PROLOGUE
ACT II “GETTIN’ HIGH”
ACT III SCENE I – OUT AT THE CLUB
SCENE II – AT CHUCK’S PLACE
ACT IV “DON’T BE A CO-STAR IN YOUR OWN LIFE”
ACT V THE COMMUNITY COALITION
ACT VI THE MISCARRIAGE- NO VALUE FOR LOVE
EPILOGUE
The play featured DIRECTOR: Roy Andrews; and Cast members: HOMER: John Ivey; PORSHA: Adrea Adams; TAMURA: Cheri Collier; J-RAP: Mark Davis; MARCIA: Lolita Head; SPECIAL GUEST: Vince Ivey; UNDERSTUDIES: Suzanne Nichols, Kelly Christmas.
The play received critical acclaim and was the subject of many, many anti-drug promotions and ad campaigns when Oakland was being bombarded with government supplied crack cocaine!
One promotion of the play was sponsored by Oakland A’s All-Star pitcher Dave Steward, investment advisor Wornel Simpson, Abdul-Jalil and Superstar Management, KidsCorp, Mayor and City of Oakland, and Hayward Nissan/Chrysler Plymouth.
I am sincerely THANKFUL for ALL my BLESSINGS!
Abdul Jalil