afroabsurdist's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
kaileycool's review
5.0
Read this a while back for my Heart of the City class and forgot to review. Obviously brilliant. I have nothing interesting to add to the narrative surrounding this classic.
dkrane's review
3.0
Dutchman and Eldridge Cleaver's writings have got a lot in common, I'd say.
Like a feverish nightmare in New York's underbelly.
Like a feverish nightmare in New York's underbelly.
pretentiouslyemely's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
not really a review, will be using this to help me write my paper for my race in theatre class. either way, an amazing play to analyze the the black and white aesthetic in american theatre.
Main Takeaways/Observations for Potential THEA 270 Paper:
Main Takeaways/Observations for Potential THEA 270 Paper:
- Racialized theatre [the destruction of the white aesthetic, replace with black aesthetic -> form and imagery], Cycle of racialization [young man at the end]
- Parallel between the apple and Clay's body, point of tension due to the numerous apples consumed, Lula's disregard of the apple presents her lack of care, treating Clay as disposable
- consumption of poc bodies, subversion of the femme fatale trope, white femininity
- Role of the audience [both the train passengers and theatre audience], how does this enhance racial aesthetic, spectators fuel Lula's behavior, complexity of the train conductor
- Adam and Eve reading [see class notes]
- Stage Directions
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Racial slurs
avlain's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
jasminekailani's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lan_string's review
4.5
This would be a 5 except I wish Dutchman's oscillation between admittedly gorgeous body-gore, visceral poetry and stark grunge realism had been a lot smoother at times. The Slave was a perfect play. I'm obsessed with it and can't imagine the strength and nuance it took for a black playwright to grapple with hypothetical black extremist liberation and terror with such supreme grace during the height of the Civil Rights movement. This was brave because especially at that time there were all too many white people eager to take this point to an unnatural end to defend continued oppression, while black people could have easily taken this play as an affront to the movement. Jones walks the tightrope with valor; the objectivity and balance with which all three characters and their circumstances are handled is superb. Wonderful wonderful work. I liked Dutchman more once I considered it as a sort of prequel to The Slave; I don't think I would enjoy seeing it on its own very much. Meanwhile I could watch The Slave on its own indefinitely, although Dutchman as a prerequisite definitely adds to The Slave's meaning, especially in the discussion of Walker's race theory. Gasped aloud during the first play's twist; laughed aloud in the second play, I thought one of Easley's but I've just gone back and read through them all and none were that funny to me so maybe it's someone else.
mjacton's review
challenging
dark
Provocative, challenging, violent. The only opinion I feel it appropriate to express is that I wish the casual homophobia was absent. But, in that way, it's a product of its time.
basilenotoregano's review
2.0
Lula is a detestable character, and there are only two characters in this play…