The bond between fathers and sons has been the stuff of drama since ancient Greece. A new play by a graduate of Y-Arts’ Detroit Creativity Project delves into this sometimes-complicated, always-important relationship through a series of scenes and monologues. “Jr.” debuted at the Marlene Boll Theater earlier this month and will have repeat performances at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 28.
Malcolm Harris Jr. wrote the play along with Devin Laster. Both are 2012 graduates of Cass Technical High School in Detroit and both were in the theater program there. The play was inspired by a monologue Devin wrote about his relationship with his father. That sparked a conversation between the young men and their friends about the father-son relationship. They started collecting stories, many of which made their way into the play.
“I felt these stories needed to be told,” says Malcom, noting that only two of his friends had what they’d characterize as good relationships with their fathers. “We don’t do better because we don’t know better. It’s a responsibility we have as men, to help other men be better fathers.”
Devin and Malcolm began writing the play together before Malcolm started learning improv through the Detroit Creativity Project. The DCP experience helped broaden his skills as an actor and was a lot of fun as well, he says. “It was eye-opening,” he says. “I knew improv was hilarious but I didn’t know it would be that hilarious and that well-organized and creative.”
He performed in the end-of-term DCP showcase at the Marlene Boll Theater and thought the space would be perfect for a performance of his play. He got introduced to theater manager Seth Amadei and worked out plans for the performance.
This is Malcolm’s debut as a writer, although he’s a seasoned actor and performer. He’ll be attending Wayne State University in the fall, majoring in theater. As for his own life inspiring art, he says that his parents divorced when he was very young and that while he and his dad aren’t as close as he would like, his father traveled from his home in Atlanta to be there for he first show. “He really liked it,” Malcolm says with pride.