Last Saturday, I saw a great local production called Intergalactic Transfer Students and if the name isn’t enough to tip you off as to what kind of production this is, let me explain a little more. This play is a type of musical, a Hip-Hopera, that uses Rap, Hip Hop, and RnB as the main mechanisms for story telling.
Synopsis: Intergalactic Transfer Students… features a couple of stoners sitting around in their Allston living room in the year 2012. The overuse of hip-hop jargon has reached an all-time high, and every word spoken by “whack emcees” actually happens: phrases like “I spit fire” and “I drop bombs,” for example, are leading to Armageddon. The two heroes, Virtue and Papa Bakes, steal a spaceship to search the galaxy for a way to defeat the Whack Emcees, a trio of over-the-top hip-hop stereotypes who hardly look like they could sell a record let alone destroy a planet. Words are powerful, though, and the heroes must stop the Emcees once and for all. Along the way, they meet some interesting alien characters, do a whole lot of drugs, and even do a bit of self-reflection. – Boston24.com
The first act was a lot of fun, took us into space and rapped a little, partied a little, went on some adventures, met a couple hot aliens. It kind of reminded me of a modern, space-version of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, except with a much more talented stoner duo. My favorite number from this act was about an alien princes named Jennanarassis. (click itttt, it will get stuck in your head fo dayzzzzz.)
After a brief intermission, the second act got really deep really fast and started getting into what I was really interested in: the message that the writers were trying to portray through this production about mainstream hip hop.
The second act opened with a song called Me. An introspective about each characters’ inner demons, and everything that they disliked about themselves, their weaknesses, their fears, in a pseudo-being standing next to them on stage. This deep track pulled me in, and i saw it bring the audience to another level, relating to these characters. This track represents a place that we all have inside of us where our demons are. It takes a lot of courage to look those demons in the eye and say, I don’t need you. I have a lot of respect for the fact that they made that moment of theirs really public. You could tell that there was a lot of truth to this moment, and honesty is what makes beautiful art. At the end of each character describing their inner demon, Papa Bakes says, “I extended my hand to shake, but he was too cool, I’ll remember that as somethin’ I will not do, I thanked him for letting me be kinder, I’m just fine, I just needed a small reminder.” (download ME.)
The second to last number (The War part II) is their final statement to the public about mainstream rap. Denouncing the industry and rappers as “clones” and “droids.” They gave a very real argument for anti-mass production. By the end of this number, the duo had the entire theater repeating “we the people, we can be louder” leaving the audience with the sudden realization that media is the way it is because we’ve let it become this, and it is our responsibility to do something about it and “be louder.”
Download the whole album from Intergalactic Transfer Students by Ambivillians FOR FREE!!
Besides the music and the message, i was also very impressed with the visuals and the choreography. There was a solid crew of hip-hop dancers (go Julie!!), break dancers, and buzzing bees who were fantastic visuals to go along with the audio. The lighting was also very effective (i loved the black light scenes). Great eye candy.
Overall, I was really impressed and moved by the production. If it ever goes up again, I recommend it to all. But for now, just wait for the DVD and download that album! and if you’re feeling generous, throw in a few dollars to support great art!!!!
Thanks for reading, Be Sound,
Sarah