Theater - "Running Into Me"

Show: Kitchen Counter Culture: Running Into Me

Theatre: Kitchen Theatre

Written and performed by Vickie Tanner

Directed by Margarett Perry

“Important conversations happen in the Kitchen” and these conversations are front and center in the Kitchen Theatre’s Counter Culture series. Running February 22-24, Running Into Me, a one-woman show written and performed by Vickie Tanner, examines the cultural and economic difficulties black youth face growing up today.

Running Into Me mixes the experiences of Tanner growing up in South Central Lost Angeles and subsequent attendance of college and move to New York City to work with kids. Running Into Me turns into a schizophrenic display by Tanner, having her switch from tongue-in-cheek ad rep to young Vickie to kids that she’s talked to. At first it’s hard to follow, wondering just what persona Tanner is channeling. But once the piece settles into some flow, one can concentrate and just what she’s trying to say.

The small size of the Kitchen Theatre enhances Running Into Me’s in-your-face approach, an effect that might be lost in a larger theatre. Instead, it feels like Tanner is speaking directly to you. At times this is a little uncomfortable since it’s difficult to really sit down and focus and think about race relations for awhile. There is no intermission in the show (a testament to Tanner’s memorization skills and stamina) so you are given no break in the onslaught of racial stereotypes and discussion on how to shatter them.

The title of the play comes from Tanner’s everyday interactions with kids in New York City. She finds that in the words and the thoughts and the emotions they are spilling to her, it’s almost as if they are channeling young Vickie. Tanner finds this troubling since it signifies that little to nothing has been done in decades to close the racial and economic divide in the United States. A poignant point made that isn’t a racial one is that there is a more invisible age divide as well. “The problem is… is that adults don’t listen.” Tanner listens. And she makes it very clear that this listening is important. Tanner says she finds that most kids are really smart, whether they act it or not. And if you dig deep enough, you’ll find intelligence and great ideas and aspirations.

Tanner challenges the audience to think throughout the entire show, but at one point she makes a challenge for direct action. Everyone’s been on public transportation or walked down the street of a major city at some point. Everyone’s seen that kid dressed up “ghetto,” wearing the baggy clothes and the labels. Tanner’s challenge is to simply say “hi, how are you?” to this person. This challenge draws a few sideways glances, mumbles, and even moans from the audience. “No, seriously,” she says. “Just ask them how their day is.”

According to her, this basic social interaction will break through their façade of toughness, if not just a little bit, and establish a basis of communication between classes and races. Everyone is human after all, and after sitting through Running Into Me, you’ll feel disconcerted about the state of people in the United States, but passionate to take action rather than just talk and listen.

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