A Review: 'A Heated Discussion - Revisited'

By Darlene Donloe 

Imagine a Think Tank filled with Black intelligentsia coming together to talk about world events, specifically issues that directly affect the Black community. 

Imagine, again, that the participants are historical icons of the past who have assembled at the request of angels, not to solve the world’s problems, but to offer their opinions on how to move forward. 

It’s all part of award-winning playwright Levy Lee Simon’s ‘A Heated Discussion - Revisited,’ a drama based on an idea by Ben Guillory, the show’s director, cast member, and the co-founder of the Robey Theatre Company.

‘A Heated Discussion’ was originally commissioned in 2019 after two years of development. Spearheaded by Guillory, it reflected the work of more than 45 participants. The original show was produced in 2022 and it was updated by Simon to reflect recent world events. Both ‘A Heated Discussion’ and ‘A Heated Discussion – Revisited,’ were written by Simon and produced and directed by Guillory.  

The show, now playing at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, opens with dramatic videos of police brutality against Blacks including the killings of Oscar Grant and George Floyd.

 (l-r) Ayonna Michele (Oya), Anderlyn Smith (Yemaya), and
Charyse Monet (Oshun)
photo by Ian Foxx

Then, three Yoruba African Orishas (angels) who are having a rather rambunctious discussion about the issues affecting the Black race, call forth several angelic Black leaders “for a divine purpose.” 

The purpose is to talk about what’s happening in the world today compared to what was happening when they walked the earth. Some of the greatest orators and public figures come back to discuss their personal philosophies as it relates to the issues of the day. The revelations that come forth are no less than amazing, spiritual, and poignant. 

Leaders brought back to talk about what’s going on in today’s Black America include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Ida B. Wells, Tupac Shakur, Maya Angelou, Bob Marley, Richard Pryor, Lorraine Hansberry, Nina Simone, and Zora Neale Hurston. A mysterious powerful figure also makes an appearance. 

It’s an exceptional mix of personalities and learned comrades who don’t always see eye to eye when it comes to elevating the Black race. 

Rosie Lee Hooks as Dr. Frances Cress Welsing
and Julio Hanson as James Baldwin
photo by Ian Foxx

James Baldwin (Julio Hanson) offers that it’s “racism” that holds back Black people.

Malcolm X (Marcus Clark-Oliver) insists that Black people “don’t ask for freedom – take it.” 

The show, meshing principles from 16 different characters, also begs the $64,000 questions, ‘Why isn’t everybody screaming and shouting?’ about the continued killings of Black men and women and ‘Why Black Lives Are Not Valued?’

“A Heated Discussion,” easily a Black history lesson on stage, takes a deep dive into issues ranging from the continued police brutality in the Black community to politics, religion, COVID, racial disparity, and even sexual orientation.

It’s an interesting premise that prompts the audience to consider different perspectives, with the understanding that not everything is a black-and-white issue.  

Lorenz Arnell as Tupac
photo by Ian Foxx

Tupac (Lorenz Arnell) believes, “It's different when white and Black people do things.” 

What bolsters the show, are the diverse Black leaders who have gathered, some of whom were controversial in their own rite before gaining their divine wings.

Imagine being a fly on the wall as Dr. Martin Luther King (Damon Rutledge) and Malcolm X wax lyrical about the Bible and the Quran and the principles of violence vs. non-violence. Listen to playwright Lorraine Hansberry (Christina Childress) and writer Zora Neale Hurston (Swisyzinna) hash out their differences when it comes to artistic integrity – stemming from whether or not one of them was less than truthful about a particular intellectual property. It's painful to hear Tupac Shakur lament on never imagining that he’d be killed by someone who looks like him. Dr. Frances Cress Welsing’s take on the age for sex, the origin of Black male homosexuality, how no one should have a baby before the age of 30, and the prowess of the Black male penis. That alone is worth the price of admission. Maya Angelou (Kimberly Bailey) and Ida B. Wells (Monte Escalante) are the voices of reason. 

Everyone is in agreement that the Black community continues to experience troubled times. Simon’s brilliance shines through when he doesn’t offer up one, clear-cut solution. There is no one-size-fits-all conclusion.  The only constant is to recognize that Black oppression, in all its forms, must end.  

What goes forth in ‘A Heated Discussion – Revisited,’ is a provocative, smoldering urgent discussion!

 Kudos to Simon for his thought-provoking prose and to Guillory for his masterful direction. The video clips move the story forward and the music adds an emotional element. 

Simon through his prose and Guillory through his creative direction, manage to give each character their due through stage placement and various topics that scarcely fit within a three-hour format.  

The first-rate cast is exceptional. They effortlessly and skillfully move about the stage delivering emotional, controversial, hilarious, and sometimes uncomfortable dialogue. Extra kudos to the three Orishas (Ayonna Michele, who played Oya, Charyse Monet, who played Oshun, and Anderlyn Smith, who played Yemaya), who were in constant ethereal motion throughout the show – even when they stayed in one position. 

‘A Heated Discussion - Revisited’ is something to talk about.”  

It’s a must-see!

‘A Heated Discussion - Revisited,’ written by Levy Lee Simon and directed by Ben Guillory, stars Kimberly Bailey (Maya Angelou), Marcus Clark-Oliver (Malcolm X), Monte Escalante (Ida B. Wells), Julio Hanson (James Baldwin), Damon Rutledge (Dr. Martin Luther King), Rosie Lee Hooks (Dr. Frances Cress Welsing), Philip Bell (Richard Pryor), Christina Childress (Lorraine Hansberry), Swisyzinna (Zora Neale Hurston), Alex W.S.T (Bob Marley), Lorenz Arnell (Tupac Shakur), LaShada Jackson (Nina Simone), Ayonna Michele (Oya), Charyse Monet (Oshun), Anderlyn Smith (Yemaya), and Ben Guillory (Shango). Dmetrius Conley-Williams is the Richard Pryor understudy.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), ‘A Heated Discussion – Revisited’ gets an O (oh, yeah).

Los Angeles Theatre Center, Robey Theatre Company, Theatre Four, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles; 8 p.m., Thurs.-Sat.; 3 p.m., Sun.; Saturday matinee on June 17 at 2 p.m.; closes 3 p.m., Sunday, June 18; $40. Students, seniors, and veterans with ID, $25; www.therobeytheatrecompany.org; 213 489-7402.