“Parental Advisory: A Breakbeat Play” reviewed by Amy Menzel in Milwaukee

**** The Milwaukee Repertory knows how to leverage the intimacy of a studio theater. They’ve done it again with Parental Advisory: a breakbeat play. From now through October 29, the Stiemke Studio stage is set as a recording studio to bring Idris Goodwin’s production to life. Directed by Kyle Haden, the two-man show welcomes the audience into the ongoing, nuanced, and critical conversations around music and culture.

Both performers have been widely recognized for their artistic endeavors prior to taking The Rep’s stage. In addition to his work as an actor and writer, Amir Abdullah, who plays The MC, has narrated Black Boy Joy and Four Hundred Souls, both of which were named Best Audiobooks of 2021 by Audiofile Magazine. Chicago theater-goers may very well be familiar with Marvin Quijada, who plays Timeless in this production, since his original silent musical, The Dream King, received 10 2023 Jeff Award nominations. In Parental Advisory, they portray musical collaborators and trusted friends – the kind of guys who aren’t afraid to play devil’s advocate or dive deeper into tough conversations.

As often happens in such conversations, things get tense and this is when the show shines. Abdullah leans into the silence, and the timing in all that follows helps frame the contemplation that is encouraged by this production. In a conversation with Goodwin, posted on The Rep’s site and shared via their active and engaging social media feeds (which I continue to urge you to follow), the director says, “If we do our jobs, people will feel right at home, they’ll feel very present, and connected to the story.” And, folks, these creators do their jobs.

Moreover, they provide layers of context for the story – which, for someone who was six years-old when the Recording Industry Association of America started slapping “Parental Advisory” labels on albums, was as much appreciated as it may have been necessary to my understanding.

English teachers like me talk about books being windows, mirrors, and doors. Theater, of course, is like that too. Shows can offer you a glimpse of another view, a reflection of your own reality, and/or a way to step into another perspective and conversation. I can’t predict whether this show will be a window, a mirror, or a door for you, dear reader, but I can confidently say it will offer you something significant.

This show should come with its own warning: It’ll make you think and cause you to discuss further.

Parental Advisory is timely, thought-provoking, engaging, entertaining, and fun.

★★★★

Parental Advisory runs now through October 29 at The Rep’s Stiemke Studio Theater. The show is approximately an hour and 30 minutes without intermission.

Saturdays – 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sundays – 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (no evening performance October 22)
Tuesday, October 3 – 6:30 p.m. / Tuesday, October 10 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, Thursdays – 7:30 p.m.
Fridays – 8 p.m.

Special dates include:
TalkBack – after the 7:30 performance on Tuesday, October 11
Audio-Described Performance – Thursday, October 12 @ 7:30 p.m.
ASL Performance – Thursday, October 19 @ 7:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $38 and can be purchased online at milwaukeerep.com, by calling the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490, or in-person at 108 E. Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee.