Penumbra is a one man autobiographical hip hop musical written and performed by Anthony Fascious Martinez about growing up in the Bronx,a jailed father, an abused girlfriend, manhood and coming to terms. It feels as though it is something very private and cathartic that he is sharing with the audience which is undoubtedly why Kamilah Forbes (from Def Poetry) has praised it as 'bold, daring and fearless'.
My one main problem with this show was that i had trouble understanding the words to the first few raps. I think technically there may have been a problem with this performance. Correcting that for futur shows would be good.
Like many hip hop rap musicals and poetry slams, Fascious comes off very forcefully and powerfully. It's non stop and several parts are notably poignant like the reading of his father's letters from prison, and his questionning of what it means to be a man in a society where masculinity is often associated with violence and men are not encouraged to open up. "I was looking for a male figure to look up to."
His Puerto Rican culture is also touched upon as are politics and family.
A compelling and engaging performance.
Too bad for the tech problem.
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