On Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, the Ybor campus theatre department hosted a play titled, “Last Days of Martin Luther King” to celebrate black history month. The play was held in addition to workshops hosted by the theatre department, taught by “Touring and Teaching” actors and educators Bryant Bentley and Alan Bomar Jones.

  The play was unlike others hosted on the HCC Mainstage theatre. “I see this as sort of my ‘what if’ play,” said Jones, director and actor of the play and member of “Touring and Teaching.” The play was centered around a fictional interview between Dr. King and an “out for himself” TV reporter. The play began with Dr. King deciding to do the interview, and spanned through the TV interview.

  Part of what made the play so interesting, aside from the subject matter, is the fact that, although it could have easily been a four person play, there were two players, Bentley and Jones, with Jones playing three different characters. Jones was able to take on different personas like a chameleon changing color, which was a treat for the theatre students to see and learn from. “I love rehearsing… I needed to separate [each character] so that the audience could go ahead and believe that they were different individuals,” said Jones.

  The play showed some of the struggle of Dr. King, as well as themes of the civil rights movement that still ring true today. The theme of the role that the media plays in covering events so that they seem differently from what actually occurred was a very present idea.

  Another part of the play that stuck with many students was when a young man is killed in the play after a protest, by a police officer. Much like Trayvon Martin, the circumstances surrounding this death were pitting inidvidual’s words against each other, enraging a community.

  One of the highlights of the play was getting to see Bentley, the actor portraying Dr. King get into character. Everything from the way he spoke down to the way he adjusted his pants before sitting was reminiscent of the mannerisms of Dr. King. His voice even matched the same pitch, alternating between recorded speeches and the actor speaking. “I think it is kind of, daring, to alternate between the recordings and my voice, but it was something that I think we needed to do.” said Bentley in a Q and A following the show.

  The show was truly a treat for the Ybor City campus. Whether you are a theatre student learning from the actors or someone that is just trying to learn more about Dr. King, the show had something for everyone.