What would happen if Martin Luther King Jr. encounters Malcom X is played out in 'The Meeting.'

LU hosts a production of 'The Meeting'

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Posted: 2/11/09

By Shannon Murphy
Rotunda Reporter

On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 3 in Molnar Recital Hall in Wygal Auditorium, Longwood University's Office of Multicultural Affairs and Lancer Productions presented "The Meeting", a one-act play performed by Toney Cobb, Ted Fango Moody and Tony Cosby. This was the first feature for Longwood's celebration of African-American History Month.

As the crowd sat silently for the entire play, the three actors moved the audience the entire time. There was no need for elaborate costumes and props; the words were the entertainment. Although the meeting was fictional, the content was about events that were happening during that time in 1965. Some audience members could relate to the events because they had lived during that time frame, but for others, their history lessons came to life.

Malcolm X, known for his hostile personality, was played by Cobb. Cobb described Malcolm X as "a very intellectual character, and a misunderstood man who had a philosophy that is rooted in a lot of truth of the moment and what was happening." Asked how he connects with the character, Cobb said, "He was an intellectual person, and he was very intense with his convictions, and he loved humanity. He did not hate people. I really try to get that across to people through my character."

Malcolm X is shown in a different light; it is shown that he had a softer side. Moody played Rashad, Malcolm X's bodyguard. When asked why he chose this role he said, "I understand the problems Malcolm X was going through at that time. They were trying to murder him, his home had been bombed, he had bomb threats nightly. So I felt like he needed protection, and I was happy to be the person who was in charge of protecting him. I just felt that, and it felt good to me."

Cosby, who played Martin Luther King Jr. said he knew he was to play this character when a pastor at his church asked him, "Do you have a dream?" Cosby performed MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech and an was told he sounded just like King. It has been almost 30 years since Cosby started playing King. He introduced "The Meeting" to the group, which was written by Jeff Stetson.

Rebecca Borum, a Longwood junior, said, "It put a new spin on what I already knew. Two different perspectives that were fighting for the same cause. … I don't even know the word to describe it."

Anna Price, another Longwood student, said, "Malcolm X is always described as the radical of the two, and it was just nice to see Malcolm X as human. It was very interesting to see the two dynamics and the possibility of what may have been said if the two had actually met."

Lasting approximately an hour, the one-act play opened many doors to the "what if" factor of the meeting. The "secret" meeting was held in Harlem's Hotel Theresa in the
play.

MLK and Malcolm X discussed many problems each one was facing at that time, and they both foreshadowed their deaths. Ironically enough, the time frame for "The Meeting" set up the fictional gathering of the two in the short time period before Malcolm X's death. The two recollect on the progress they had both made, and discussed how things may have been different if they had worked together. "Can you imagine what would have happened if we were pushing in the same direction?" they wondered. Cosby, as King, said, "I cannot change, and neither can you."

This play has been performed every January through March since 1996, and the group has 22 shows left this year. To look at history and compare it to something fictional like this play is quite an experience. It was a moving piece that enlightened audience members.