Houston playwright debuts sophomore play “When Love Hurts”

Houston playwright R. Renee takes the audience on a journey of twists and turns centered on the traumatic experience of a teenage girl and the dramatic ripple effects of a youthful decision that sends her in hiding, and the miraculous way God intervenes to turn tragedy into purpose.

In this eye-opening play, R. Renee intertwines faith and trauma into a powerful story of redemption for a young girl who the audience meets as she is wheeled in on a stretcher and code blues but is brought back to life when she hears the voice of God telling her to not give up and trust Him with her life.

The audience is introduced to July, the First Lady of a local church that is steeped in the traditions of the past. July has received a vision from God to infuse a fresh new spirit into an annual women’s conference when she is met with resistance from “Sister Important,” one of the “mothers of the church,” and is confronted with some of the deep, dark secrets that she had tried to leave buried in her past.

The Houston playwright expertly weaves innuendo and a dash of speculation into the fold throughout the remainder of the play as July seeks to follow the voice of God but finds herself entangled between an embittered husband, the church’s pastor who has become disillusioned with God, and a mother who offers her son-in-law a listening ear but appears, on the surface, to be getting too close for comfort.

In her period of self-discovery and reflection, July meets August, a woman who challenges her to recognize how blessed she is to have the love of a mother and shares her own tale of how “love hurts.” By the end of the play, the audience has navigated so many twists and turns that they never see the final scene coming that unfolds God’s plan of redemption in each of the characters lives. After a rollercoaster ride of emotions, playgoers are left cheering as this cast of imperfect people each witness God’s power to transform their trauma into triumph.

When “Love Hurts” takes a hard look at the harsh realities of life that would have some count us out, but shows how one woman’s reignited faith and refusal to be defined by her past becomes the door God uses to impact the lives of many.

With expert ease, the Houston playwright, joined by a talented ensemble cast, uses the raw and unfiltered truth of human frailties to show the power of God to turn the heartache, pain and disillusionment of a band of ordinary people into a reawakened hope and faith that points each of them back to Him.

“Love Hurts” is a must-see play that leaves you on the edge of your seat, unsure of how the broken pieces of the play’s characters will be put back together, until God shines His light into the dark places of their hearts and guides them onto a new path to unfold His purposes for their lives.

The main cast that brings this dramatic play to life under R. Renee’s direction, includes Selina Affram (as July), Curtis Martin (as the Husband), Olevia Brown (as Mother Royalty), Christina Lockett (as Sister Love), Nedra Bell (as August), and Byrona Johnson (Sister Important) and Sorteria Martin (as the patient).

Sponsored by the Houston Police Officers’ Union (HPOU), Sterling Portfolio Maagers, LLC, General Orders No. 3 Vodka, Skipper Lee & Sons Eternal Rest Funeral Home, GULFGATE Dodge Chrysler Jeep & Ram, Mr. Jones, Darrell L. Wright Attorney at Law and Discovering A New Life, Inc., and silent sponsors, the play also received support from Mattie Provost of Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty, AMDCreativesStudio, Houston This Is It Soul Food, Mr. Jones, IDoCustomElopements.com, Growth Nail & Self Care Spa, The Christina Lockett Show, Chelsea Cymone and VgnBae Music Group.

For more information on R. Renee Productions and to see plans for upcoming plays, visit www.rreneeproductions.com.