East 14th: True Tales of a Reluctant Player

Play Review by Sean Brekke-Miesner aka Town SyndrumEast 14th St, or International Blvd as some of you now know it, is one of the most popular, interesting and culturally diverse streets in Oakland and the greater Bay Area. So when I went to see the one man play East 14th: True Tales of a Reluctant Player by Don Reed, I hoped to see a vibrant, colorful and complex rendering of the street I grew up so close to. Reed accomplished that and more. Through music, comedy, and story telling he relayed what it was like to grow up in East Oakland in the 1970s. His particular case was made all the more compelling by the juxtaposition of being raised by a pimp on one side of his family and a Jehovah’s Witness on the other.

Some of you might know Don Reed from “The Cosby Show,” where he played the recurring role of Chip, but he has also appeared in “ER,” “Will & Grace,” “Frasier,” “Friends,” “Scrubs,” “Law & Order,” and “Saturday Night Live.” I remembered his face and humor, but had no idea that he hailed from the same hood as me.

He started the show by speaking about dealing with his parents’ divorce at a young age, and adjusting to the man his mother remarried. His stepfather was a Jehovah’s Witness who converted the whole family and had Don up every Sunday morning at 7AM knocking on doors. Mr. Reed was able to paint his stepfather and other characters by mastering their idiosyncrasies and mannerisms in a very adept fashion. Without even changing costumes, you could tell who he was portraying by the inflection of his voice and change in his facial expressions.

After years living with his mom and stepfather he thought it was time to move to his dad’s house on the other side of E-14th. He did not know it at the time, but his father was a big time pimp in East Oakland. When he moved there everything changed. He started hanging around his “playa” brother, his ultra-gay brother, and random women that always seemed to be around. He chronicled how he lost his virginity to a girl missing her two front teeth, his attempts to pick up girls at Lake Merritt with a Jesus perm, and getting tips from his brother on how to treat women.

In addition to Reed’s wit, I was also struck by his musical selection. He used Funk and the Mo-Town sound to recreate a realistic 1970s scene. He even specified the tracks they used to play when they were driving around Lake Merritt trying to pick up girls. His flair for detail was noticeable and much appreciated.

Unfortunately, this showing of East 14th at the Marsh Theater, in San Francisco’s Mission District, was a one-time event. Hopefully Mr. Reed will be able to put on his dynamic one-man show in other venues around the Bay Area, because it was a hysterical and nuanced rendering of a distinct period in Oakland history. If it comes to a play house near you, you should treat yourself to an enjoyable little slice of our great Town. Support the arts in Oakland and support East 14th.