Trapped in the Closet

Ibn Shabazz's Insidious shares a surprising number of themes with R. Kelly's 22-chapter opus: infidelity, addiction, unpredictable personalities, AIDS, closeted behavior. However, while Kelly (whether intentionally or not) makes light of these very serious matters, Insidious weaves them into a tense, disturbing story with very real consequences for the lives and relationship of young Dawud and Kara. As the play opens, the two recovering addicts are planning their wedding and debating the appropriateness of alcohol at their reception. As soon as Kara leaves, Dawud abandons his concern over relapse, picking up a man (suspiciously named Insidious) at the park. He retreats to his bedroom with the stranger who later refuses to leave. Thus begins a short, tense down-low affair affair that complicates the simple life Dawud and Kara have fought so hard to obtain. The drama unfolds at the Grandel Theatre (3610 Grandel Square; 314-534-1834) tonight at 7 p.m. Shows continue through June 24; dates and times very. For more information or to purchase tickets ($20 to $47), visit Ibn Shabazz's Insidious shares a surprising number of themes with R. Kelly's 22-chapter opus: infidelity, addiction, unpredictable personalities, AIDS, closeted behavior. However, while R. Kelly (whether intentionally or not) makes light of these very serious matters, Insidious weaves them into a tense, disturbing story with very real consequences for the lives and relationship of young Dawud and Kara. As the play opens, the two recovering addicts are planning their wedding and debating the appropriateness of alcohol at their reception. As soon as Kara leaves, Dawud abandons his concern over relapse, picking up a man (suspiciously named Insidious) at the park. He retreats to his bedroom with the stranger who later refuses to leave. Thus begins a short, tense down-low affair affair that complicates the simple life Dawud and Kara have fought so hard to obtain. The drama unfolds at the Grandel Theatre (3610 Grandel Square; 314-534-1834) tonight at 7 p.m. Shows continue through June 24; dates and times very. For more information or to purchase tickets ($20 to $47), visit www.theblackrep.org.
Thursdays, 7 p.m.; Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 3 & 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m.; Wed., June 6, 7 p.m.; Wed., June 20, 7 p.m. Starts: May 24. Continues through June 24, 2012