Night of the Inferno 2 (Play Review)
By Terrence Clark
It was a packed auditorium in Camden NJ. The Creative Arts Academy on Morgan Boulevard holds about 400 people. The crowd was from all over, traveling to the NJ city to participate as producer, performer, or patron.
Ed Steed’s play The Night of the Inferno was originally a screenplay converted to play script debuting to the public on the smaller stage. The theme was somewhat generic for a gospel centered production (which is not negative, by the way). It was the story of a life gone bad, backsliders, near-death encounters, rebellion, and reunion. The hero, as always, unseen in character on stage, or audience—God assuming the reward winning role as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The director's style was a series of twenty-four short scenes----dropped into three Acts. |
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The audience broke into a hearty applause, and I would deem them award winners in most Christian productions. This genre of movies and plays is reminiscent of a Sunday morning testimony. Not even the occasional stutter from an actor could hinder the believers from being drawn in. “Oooh,” “aah,” and “hallelujah” echo through darkened rooms as the audience critique the actions of the antagonist, protagonist, and supporting cast as they portray redemption, reconciliation, and revival.
In an anointed Christian performance the Holy Spirit sets and maintains the atmosphere. Although, anointing doesn’t dismiss the need for excellence in performance, but helps the preacher-writer tell the story.
Excerpt from the playbook the story is summarized----
Luisa Santiago is a troubled young woman feeling abandoned by everyone in her life except her faithful mother, whom she angrily rejects. Lu’s Aunt CC with whom she once enjoyed a close relationship, seems to have developed deep-rooted troubles of her own and the two of them have become estranged. On one fateful evening, Lu heads out to a hot night spot and reunites with her long-lost friend. It starts out well, but eventually, the two young women find themselves trapped in a horrible nightmare on the wrong side of town and it seems they have no hope of escape. A series of haunting characters and troubling circumstances ruin the good times these young ladies were about to enjoy. But through it all, the hand of God, moving with stealth, prevails and causes a great reunion to occur. Sadly, not everyone will be able to enjoy it. |
Nancy Salgado-Cowan--Piscataway NJ, Pastor Steed’s sister-in-law, says that the family didn’t get any previews and therefore the show was a surprise. She thought it was excellent, and the highlight for her was “the young girl who was in the car with her best friend and she realizes that she’s halfway between heaven and hell, life and death.”
Robyn Johnson from Camden found out about the play through friends. She pointed out, “There were first show jitters kind of things.” However, she says she really loved the storyline. “I got the message, she explained. “This is your chance to have a second chance or otherwise The Inferno is where you’re going to end up.”
Robin believes the play could be used as a witnessing tool. She said, “You have to use other methods than the pulpit to reach another generation.”
Josiah Johnson was behind the stage in production on the lighting team. His job---the stage light effects, the house light, the timing, scene transactions. He helped make sure the accident scene was properly executed.
Robyn Johnson from Camden found out about the play through friends. She pointed out, “There were first show jitters kind of things.” However, she says she really loved the storyline. “I got the message, she explained. “This is your chance to have a second chance or otherwise The Inferno is where you’re going to end up.”
Robin believes the play could be used as a witnessing tool. She said, “You have to use other methods than the pulpit to reach another generation.”
Josiah Johnson was behind the stage in production on the lighting team. His job---the stage light effects, the house light, the timing, scene transactions. He helped make sure the accident scene was properly executed.
He is no novice to stage production, and he has been an asset to bringing the Inferno to stage. “I’ve done production in many fields such as music, graphics, video visual, and marketing & promoting,” acknowledged Josiah. “There isn’t much that I don’t do when it comes to theatre, music, and entertainment.” Josiah was pleased with the turnout and the production.
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Terrell Johnson, twenty-nine, is a member of Safe Haven Christian Fellowship (the hosting church), pointed out that there was plenty of buzz surrounding the play for quite some time. His highlight, “When she [Luisa} was in the hospital and you discover that she was pretty much in a coma. She was reviewing everything she just went through and all the stuff that happened in her past.”
Maria Green, seventeen, from Pennsylvania, offered a teenager’s perspective. “It was really entertaining, and it touched me. The music was good. The acting was good.” Her highlight was when one of the main characters (Aunt CC –Pastor Kim) sang---gospel, noting how the artist hit the high notes perfectly.
Sandra Haynes, who is also from Newark, drove for two hours with a cousin and a couple of friends. She thought the play was awesome, and an effective tool for leading people to the Lord? Her favorite part was CC giving her life back to Christ. She can relate. “I been out there, said Sandra. I’ve done some crazy things… been on drugs. God has delivered me. It’s been over twenty years now that I’ve been clean.”
Leah Robinson, 70 continues to diversify her ministry. She just launched a new ministry about a month earlier. Tonight she was part of the cast, playing two parts--- the first being a nightclub employee (a floozy and a flirt). Her second role was a surgeon. They were vastly different roles, but the minister said she had a lot of fun. “It was done to the glory and honor of Jesus Christ,” said Leah.
She was brought in by a local minister Rev. Arnold Stewart her spiritual grandson. Having done many plays in the past, she says doing drama is both challenging and very fulfilling. “I believe, added Leah, this is just the beginning of my spiritual enterprise with drama.”
Tamara Stewart attested to the growth of the cast. She lent her production skills to the play, and not only did she act as the stage manager, set designer, co-director, she is also a singer, actress, and songwriter. Her entertainment career began when she was 11, when she was cast for a television special. Her robust career also includes being a musician in gospel music and acting and producing for multiple stage productions. She used to work with Stacy Proverbs, NOTI’s production assistant years ago, through whom she learned of the Inferno project. She met Pastor Steed and Dr. Dozier, NOTI Executive Administrator early in the year, sat down and collaborated.
For a first performance, she was pleased with NOTI. Her highlight was Pastor Kim’s song. “It was just beautiful. Every time I hear it, said Tamara, it makes me want to cry. It makes you feel God is in the place.”
Speaking of Pastor Kim, she is the leader of Fresh Oil Worship Center, which is located in Pennsauken, NJ. She also has a gospel music album. Pastor Kim, who played a lead role, discussed how she became familiar with the project. “It’s a long story,” she laughed, pointing to Arnold Stewart. He was how she became acquainted with Pastor Steed.
Reverend Stewart was already a team member when he informed her about the pastor from North Jersey directing plays. Kim had had the acting bug for most of her life, so her interest was peaked. “Since I was about ten or eleven years old,” she explained, “I’ve always wanted to be involved with plays. She went to NOTI audition to seek a director spot but left casted for her role of CC. “And the rest is history, she said.”
Pastor Kim, who has her own production rolling out this year, said the plot resonated with her. She explained, “When we talk about generational curses in families, people dying before their time, getting caught up in addictions--I understand it. I don’t think that there is a family that’s exempt from that. I can relate to it.”
Many audience members agreed that Pastor Kim’s character song was a performance highlight. For her, however, it was Luisa’s transformation. She reflected, “Anytime God transforms a life, it is the highlight. She re-dedicated her life to the Lord after the accident, as did my character CC.”
Jay-Dub is part of the singing group FullyLoaded 4Christ, and he was a member of the drug dealer’s entourage, as well as a Street Rapper. His group met Pastor Steed, through an outreach event, and he invited them to come and get affiliated with the play he wrote. After meeting for dinner, they joined the team.
Jay expressed the importance of men in Christianity: “We need more men to step out like that in faith and do what God called them to do. Anybody that’s doing that through the Holy Spirit, we tap into it, because that’s what we do. We’re an outreach group. We go out and proclaim the gospel in the streets. We don’t just keep it in the church.” His group can be found on Facebook and YouTube by the name, Fully Loaded 4 Christ.
Nailah Harris is Pastor Steed’s daughter. She played the other lead role of Luisa, which she landed before the screen version was sent Hollywood. With her helping with the editing and stage adaptation, her father had her in mind for the part. She yielded and accepted, although she and her husband had relocated to Virginia hours away from play and rehearsals.
However, the distance did not deter Nailah’s commitment. “I connect with Luisa because I lost my mom when I was six to breast cancer. Thankfully, I did not lose my dad. There was a period when he disconnected because of the loss of my mom. So in a sense, I kind of lost both my parents. I went through other trials and tribulations, and Luisa resonates with me. I was also rebellious. I had that rebellious way about me. Maybe not as bad as Luisa, but it was still easy to connect with her. But, God is good and that’s really what it comes down to.”
Surprisingly, her highlight was offstage. “It was the twelve-hour drive with my best friend---Yvonne Solomon, who played Joelle Perkins in the play. We had a lot of good times--a lot of joking craziness. It was all worth it, and it helped us build up awesome chemistry which came out on the stage.”
As a witnessing tool, Nailah said NOTI expressed, “No matter what you do, God is always going to give you grace and mercy. Still, you have to decide for yourself am I willing to go take that walk. When you make that decision you will never look back even when you try. Even if you go far away, and you can (that’s the prodigal son moment), you will come back and God will receive you, with open arms. Its absolute ministry in and of itself.”
After the show, Pastor Steed was still directing. He was overseeing the clean-up and the after-party. He shared his perspective on the performance: “It was quite hectic. We had a lot of hiccups, but I think the audience didn’t catch all of those hiccups---maybe a couple. There were a lot of delays in between scenes. But, this is our first production. We believe the Lord has his hands on this production. We’re going to do many, many more to his glory and for his people.”
Pastor Steed believed that the subject was responsible for the draw from the diverse two-city audience. “When people heard the title, we sent out a summary of what the play was about. They found it intriguing. We do have a vast support network that stretches from the top to the bottom of the state. Some people came out because they just wanted to support us. Others because they were intrigued by the subject matter. The third group that came out was out of curiosity.”
He continued, “This thing has shocked me so much. When we sent it out to Hollywood, we weren’t expecting anything. We just wanted feedback. But every time my wife and I looked on the board, our play was still there. Our script was still there. It was shocking. I’m shocked that the young people today, especially very young were intrigued by this thing. It’s kind of a more mature subject matter.”
Both writer and director, the pastor said the pervading theme was redemption-people with difficulties in life finding redemption. “The main character and her aunt---primarily find redemption. I can relate to some of those things. I wrote those characters, so I know.”
Pastor Ed’s inspiration runs deep. “I had a personal experience on April 24, 1991. I was suicidal. Alcohol had beat me down. I had a gun in my hand when the Lord came to visit with me. He spoke to me. He gave me a scripture that today is my favorite scripture---Psalms 27:1
‘The Lord is my light and my salvation whom should I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life of whom should I be afraid.’
“So I came out of that fearing nothing and leaning on the Lord. It was then when he confirmed the calling of ministry that I received at a young age, but never responded to. It took my own Night of the Inferno to pull me out of it.” He also shared the irony that it was his real-life daughter, who in play acted out his experience through the character Luisa.
Pastor Steed’s hope for the NOTI audience was that the gospel seed was planted in those who are not saved. He hopes they would see we’re in dangerous times. “We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We want people to be saved. Those who are already saved, we want them to receive the confirmation of their salvation and to get right.” The director hopes to do more performances. His goal is to bless more people not necessary millions but to be a blessing.
Pastor Steed shared, “He [Jesus] is my all and all---my Jesus Christ. He’s the one that reached down to me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me up. I should’ve lost my job in that situation. I was going to lose my life at my own hands. When I came to the point, Jesus pulled me up. I don’t care about the job. Not only did I regain my job, I was eventually over the years elevated to a position of honor and authority. Only Jesus, only him, so I know him as my personal Lord and Savior for real.
Sandra Haynes, who is also from Newark, drove for two hours with a cousin and a couple of friends. She thought the play was awesome, and an effective tool for leading people to the Lord? Her favorite part was CC giving her life back to Christ. She can relate. “I been out there, said Sandra. I’ve done some crazy things… been on drugs. God has delivered me. It’s been over twenty years now that I’ve been clean.”
Leah Robinson, 70 continues to diversify her ministry. She just launched a new ministry about a month earlier. Tonight she was part of the cast, playing two parts--- the first being a nightclub employee (a floozy and a flirt). Her second role was a surgeon. They were vastly different roles, but the minister said she had a lot of fun. “It was done to the glory and honor of Jesus Christ,” said Leah.
She was brought in by a local minister Rev. Arnold Stewart her spiritual grandson. Having done many plays in the past, she says doing drama is both challenging and very fulfilling. “I believe, added Leah, this is just the beginning of my spiritual enterprise with drama.”
Tamara Stewart attested to the growth of the cast. She lent her production skills to the play, and not only did she act as the stage manager, set designer, co-director, she is also a singer, actress, and songwriter. Her entertainment career began when she was 11, when she was cast for a television special. Her robust career also includes being a musician in gospel music and acting and producing for multiple stage productions. She used to work with Stacy Proverbs, NOTI’s production assistant years ago, through whom she learned of the Inferno project. She met Pastor Steed and Dr. Dozier, NOTI Executive Administrator early in the year, sat down and collaborated.
For a first performance, she was pleased with NOTI. Her highlight was Pastor Kim’s song. “It was just beautiful. Every time I hear it, said Tamara, it makes me want to cry. It makes you feel God is in the place.”
Speaking of Pastor Kim, she is the leader of Fresh Oil Worship Center, which is located in Pennsauken, NJ. She also has a gospel music album. Pastor Kim, who played a lead role, discussed how she became familiar with the project. “It’s a long story,” she laughed, pointing to Arnold Stewart. He was how she became acquainted with Pastor Steed.
Reverend Stewart was already a team member when he informed her about the pastor from North Jersey directing plays. Kim had had the acting bug for most of her life, so her interest was peaked. “Since I was about ten or eleven years old,” she explained, “I’ve always wanted to be involved with plays. She went to NOTI audition to seek a director spot but left casted for her role of CC. “And the rest is history, she said.”
Pastor Kim, who has her own production rolling out this year, said the plot resonated with her. She explained, “When we talk about generational curses in families, people dying before their time, getting caught up in addictions--I understand it. I don’t think that there is a family that’s exempt from that. I can relate to it.”
Many audience members agreed that Pastor Kim’s character song was a performance highlight. For her, however, it was Luisa’s transformation. She reflected, “Anytime God transforms a life, it is the highlight. She re-dedicated her life to the Lord after the accident, as did my character CC.”
Jay-Dub is part of the singing group FullyLoaded 4Christ, and he was a member of the drug dealer’s entourage, as well as a Street Rapper. His group met Pastor Steed, through an outreach event, and he invited them to come and get affiliated with the play he wrote. After meeting for dinner, they joined the team.
Jay expressed the importance of men in Christianity: “We need more men to step out like that in faith and do what God called them to do. Anybody that’s doing that through the Holy Spirit, we tap into it, because that’s what we do. We’re an outreach group. We go out and proclaim the gospel in the streets. We don’t just keep it in the church.” His group can be found on Facebook and YouTube by the name, Fully Loaded 4 Christ.
Nailah Harris is Pastor Steed’s daughter. She played the other lead role of Luisa, which she landed before the screen version was sent Hollywood. With her helping with the editing and stage adaptation, her father had her in mind for the part. She yielded and accepted, although she and her husband had relocated to Virginia hours away from play and rehearsals.
However, the distance did not deter Nailah’s commitment. “I connect with Luisa because I lost my mom when I was six to breast cancer. Thankfully, I did not lose my dad. There was a period when he disconnected because of the loss of my mom. So in a sense, I kind of lost both my parents. I went through other trials and tribulations, and Luisa resonates with me. I was also rebellious. I had that rebellious way about me. Maybe not as bad as Luisa, but it was still easy to connect with her. But, God is good and that’s really what it comes down to.”
Surprisingly, her highlight was offstage. “It was the twelve-hour drive with my best friend---Yvonne Solomon, who played Joelle Perkins in the play. We had a lot of good times--a lot of joking craziness. It was all worth it, and it helped us build up awesome chemistry which came out on the stage.”
As a witnessing tool, Nailah said NOTI expressed, “No matter what you do, God is always going to give you grace and mercy. Still, you have to decide for yourself am I willing to go take that walk. When you make that decision you will never look back even when you try. Even if you go far away, and you can (that’s the prodigal son moment), you will come back and God will receive you, with open arms. Its absolute ministry in and of itself.”
After the show, Pastor Steed was still directing. He was overseeing the clean-up and the after-party. He shared his perspective on the performance: “It was quite hectic. We had a lot of hiccups, but I think the audience didn’t catch all of those hiccups---maybe a couple. There were a lot of delays in between scenes. But, this is our first production. We believe the Lord has his hands on this production. We’re going to do many, many more to his glory and for his people.”
Pastor Steed believed that the subject was responsible for the draw from the diverse two-city audience. “When people heard the title, we sent out a summary of what the play was about. They found it intriguing. We do have a vast support network that stretches from the top to the bottom of the state. Some people came out because they just wanted to support us. Others because they were intrigued by the subject matter. The third group that came out was out of curiosity.”
He continued, “This thing has shocked me so much. When we sent it out to Hollywood, we weren’t expecting anything. We just wanted feedback. But every time my wife and I looked on the board, our play was still there. Our script was still there. It was shocking. I’m shocked that the young people today, especially very young were intrigued by this thing. It’s kind of a more mature subject matter.”
Both writer and director, the pastor said the pervading theme was redemption-people with difficulties in life finding redemption. “The main character and her aunt---primarily find redemption. I can relate to some of those things. I wrote those characters, so I know.”
Pastor Ed’s inspiration runs deep. “I had a personal experience on April 24, 1991. I was suicidal. Alcohol had beat me down. I had a gun in my hand when the Lord came to visit with me. He spoke to me. He gave me a scripture that today is my favorite scripture---Psalms 27:1
‘The Lord is my light and my salvation whom should I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life of whom should I be afraid.’
“So I came out of that fearing nothing and leaning on the Lord. It was then when he confirmed the calling of ministry that I received at a young age, but never responded to. It took my own Night of the Inferno to pull me out of it.” He also shared the irony that it was his real-life daughter, who in play acted out his experience through the character Luisa.
Pastor Steed’s hope for the NOTI audience was that the gospel seed was planted in those who are not saved. He hopes they would see we’re in dangerous times. “We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We want people to be saved. Those who are already saved, we want them to receive the confirmation of their salvation and to get right.” The director hopes to do more performances. His goal is to bless more people not necessary millions but to be a blessing.
Pastor Steed shared, “He [Jesus] is my all and all---my Jesus Christ. He’s the one that reached down to me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me up. I should’ve lost my job in that situation. I was going to lose my life at my own hands. When I came to the point, Jesus pulled me up. I don’t care about the job. Not only did I regain my job, I was eventually over the years elevated to a position of honor and authority. Only Jesus, only him, so I know him as my personal Lord and Savior for real.
Pastor Arnold Stewart’s name was dropped many times during the evening. He lives in Blackwood NJ and has pastored in Camden for seven years. He revealed it was after a three-year period of deep depression that he left the pastorate and stepped out into field ministry. He now serves full time connected with Crusaders for Christ Evangelistic Center in Philadelphia under Pastor David Hill.
He and his wife were meeting Pastor Steed at his house when he shared the script with him. His wife was clowning around with a character she made called “Sister Girl.” Steed noted that the improv reminded him his character Joelle. Inquiry led to the exposure of the NOTI. He asked Pastor Ed if he could bring the play to Camden, hoping to develop a different type of outreach to the city.
He expressed, “Most of these people aren’t coming to the church. The church has to come up with new innovative ways to reach out to the community, to reach out to the streets and bring the gospel to the people. Jesus came out of the synagogue and we went out into the hedges and the highways. He went into the mountains and valleys.”
Pastor Arnold stated, “Originally, the Inferno was going to be a fifteen-minute skit at a conference he was conducting. While he was preparing the skit, Ed suffered a terrible accident in a stairwell in his home and had to have emergency surgery on his knee. He was bedridden for over a month. He thought this was God telling him not to do the skit. God spoke when he got still before him and said. ‘I don’t want you to do the skit. I want you to do the whole play.’”
Pastor Arnold, whose ministry is street focused, added, “This is the first production. We’re trusting God for many, many more. I would like to see this one day become the Inferno Tour, where we go to different cities, make a full circle, and bring it right back here to Camden.”
“It meets us right where we are. We all have some type of situation that we're experiencing in our life. We need to make the Word of God relevant to our current day issues. A lot of times, when I was growing up, we talked about the bible stories. We saw characters but we didn’t understand how these stories applied to our everyday living. I believe that the arts are one of the final frontiers that we can utilize to bring the gospel to people who are really---I hate to say this---had enough of church. They really had enough of the traditional four walls.
We have an opportunity to become more creative in ways, to bring the gospel to the people, reaching them right where they are, letting them see how the Word of God is relevant for to today.”
He says the city of Camden needs it.
He and his wife were meeting Pastor Steed at his house when he shared the script with him. His wife was clowning around with a character she made called “Sister Girl.” Steed noted that the improv reminded him his character Joelle. Inquiry led to the exposure of the NOTI. He asked Pastor Ed if he could bring the play to Camden, hoping to develop a different type of outreach to the city.
He expressed, “Most of these people aren’t coming to the church. The church has to come up with new innovative ways to reach out to the community, to reach out to the streets and bring the gospel to the people. Jesus came out of the synagogue and we went out into the hedges and the highways. He went into the mountains and valleys.”
Pastor Arnold stated, “Originally, the Inferno was going to be a fifteen-minute skit at a conference he was conducting. While he was preparing the skit, Ed suffered a terrible accident in a stairwell in his home and had to have emergency surgery on his knee. He was bedridden for over a month. He thought this was God telling him not to do the skit. God spoke when he got still before him and said. ‘I don’t want you to do the skit. I want you to do the whole play.’”
Pastor Arnold, whose ministry is street focused, added, “This is the first production. We’re trusting God for many, many more. I would like to see this one day become the Inferno Tour, where we go to different cities, make a full circle, and bring it right back here to Camden.”
“It meets us right where we are. We all have some type of situation that we're experiencing in our life. We need to make the Word of God relevant to our current day issues. A lot of times, when I was growing up, we talked about the bible stories. We saw characters but we didn’t understand how these stories applied to our everyday living. I believe that the arts are one of the final frontiers that we can utilize to bring the gospel to people who are really---I hate to say this---had enough of church. They really had enough of the traditional four walls.
We have an opportunity to become more creative in ways, to bring the gospel to the people, reaching them right where they are, letting them see how the Word of God is relevant for to today.”
He says the city of Camden needs it.