THE PLAY
The Other Side Of The Story is the origin play and Prequel in the Other Side Universe. It originally debuted in 2017 at the Electric Lodge with back to back sold out performances.
Set in sunny Los Angeles CA, in the backyard oasis of a home that is owned by Wise and Truth, is a place where no holds are barred and things are called as they are seen. Workout sessions, chess and dice games all happen in this outdoor man cave. Wise and Truth are the elder statesmen of the bunch who have been best friends since children.
They met Pierre, Sunny, Eric, Hosea, Will and Chris while volunteering at a community center when they were young adolescents. The bonds that they built have lasted longer than anyone could expect and now they are all permanent fixtures in each other’s lives. They are not related by blood, but they are very much a close knit family unit.
There are times when brutal honesty, and what seems like betrayal, can tamper with years of bonding. We see raw emotion during hard times which shows how comfortable these men are with one another. This play is a rich, colorful piece of work that deals with brotherhood, friendship, love, betrayal, tragedy, and gives us a peek into the every day Black male life.
the characters
WISE AND TRUTH.
Best friends from Bonita, Louisiana. They went into the service on the buddy system and later moved to California after serving time in Vietnam. These men are different in delivery, but like true best friends, they can finish each other’s sentences. They are a dynamic duo who can function alone, but are beyond great together.
CHRIS
Witty, comical, and intelligent all describe Chris. He is somebody you always want around. Amid his endless supply of gifts and talents, he is content going from hustle to hustle or coming up with the most outlandish business ideas.
WILL
Society would often have you believe that most guys, or every guy, is looking for the next notch on his belt. That is not the case for Will. He is a guy desperate to have a storybook ending. He is a hopeless romantic to the core and he wears his heart on his sleeve.
PIERRE
This charismatic lady magnet is smooth, self-absorbed and is totally okay with it. Women are sex toys and he has no regrets about how he treats them. He has a constant influx of lady friends and the game never gets old. One issue from his past dictates his present and his future.
SUNNY
Some people weather storms that other people couldn’t imagine being in for one moment. Such is the life of Sunny, a convicted felon and separated dad who is trying to make an honest living and build a relationship with his son. Although he is always in a tough situation, he keeps moving along.
HOSEA
Married father of four and on his second marriage. He has children by three different women and cheats on his current wife. Some men are able to get things under control and some forever struggle.
ERIC
The man most women dream of having. He is educated, loving, and a great husband. He is committed to his family and cherishes every moment with them.