Kept in Suspense
"...to help in the war against Human Sex Trafficking... It should be something we know, that we are afraid of."
We watched the characters climb their situations like a rope. We watched the rope turn into razor wire and the players let go. We watched them fall and fall and fall until we could watch no longer. Then we watched them crash in the tenth circle of Hell.
Karibu Performance Arts presents a shocking and tense production of Kept, a play that investigates the lives tragically entangled in Human Sex Trafficking. Mia Kristin Smith (Director/Writer/Lead Actress) leads the cast in an effort "...to help in the war against Human Sex Trafficking... It should be something we know, that we are afraid of."
From the moment one walks into the space, there is a buzz in the air. It felt reminiscent of standing on the church steps before a ceremony; people across the age and race spectrum asking questions, telling stories, meeting their neighbor, or just soaking in the scene before them. From the browning bananas on the Dollar Store nightstand to the violent acts of power and desire, we were compelled to witness characters fighting to live moment by moment in situations that seemed wrenched from our darkest imaginings.
Partnering with an array of advocates (International Human Trafficking Institute, Out of Darkness, Wellspring Living, Covenant House), Karibu creates an uneasy but much needed dialogue with the community to try and bring awareness and resources to help stem this multi-billion dollar industry from claiming anymore young lives.
-A. Julian Verner
