Soldier On

Basic Training
Directed & written by: Kahlil Ashanti
Barrow Street Theatre
27 Barrow Street New York, NY 10014
At 7th Avenue, South of Christopher Street
(212) 868-4444
By: Ashley L. Mathus

Kahlil Ashanti gives a riveting performance in his one-man show, Basic Training. Based on his life story, Ashanti portrays over thirteen relative characters, and for an hour, our emotions are at his fingertips. His hesitation-less body language is remarkable, instantly snapping back and forth between personalities, as if you’re flipping through television channels. His consistency is professional and coherent, guiding us through the laughs and turmoil of his life. Winner of the 2004 Vancouver and Montreal Fringe Festivals, Basic Training is a must see.

1992: Ashanti begins his story in native state, Iowa, immediately setting the bar for comedic timing and heartache. Prior to departure for basic training at the Air Force Academy, his mother nonchalantly reveals the abusive man who raised him is not his biological father. With a sudden change of pace, Ashanti rapidly exposes the memorable interactions he encountered inside the forts’ walls and beyond. His Sergeant, an uncompromising authoritative figure too vulgar for even Howard Stern, parrying Kahlil to Kunta Kinte, habitually uses intimidation as his tactic. Unleashing brutal and hysterical honesty, Ashanti exploits the definitive emotion of his elders while procuring laughter from the entire theater. Ashanti’s physicality transposes from stiff and intimidating to agile, gentle, rebellious, or flamboyant, depending on the role. Completing basic training at the top of his class, Kahlil auditions as a stand up comedian for the Air Force’s entertainment group, Tops In Blue. He grooved his way portraying his fellow auditionees, popping, locking, and rapping with vibrant energy and enthusiasm. Performing around the world, Ashanti re-enacted an extraordinary near-death experience in Kuwait, heightening the drama and motive for finding his father.

He is a comedian in his own right, never losing sight of what is behind him, and nostalgic for the oddities that molded his memory. A simple set of one chair, crafty upstage lighting, and a minimal sound score facilitates Kahlil in this one-man show. Each character has a distinct voice, stance, and mannerisms, proving time after time his dependable accuracy. Ashanti paces and uses the stage space comfortably, brilliantly carving it in his imagination. Convincing performances whether male or female allows superb technical re-invention, and our understanding that Basic Training is more than six weeks of pushups, but a decision that shaped Ashanti’s life. He is a diva and a drill sergeant, a mother and a friend, exhibiting a perfect balance for any soldier and actor.