Alex 8231

See it if You want a smart relevant piece of theater that doesn't pander with cheap Trump jokes, but instead engages a conversation.

Don't see it if You find Ted Talks grating. It has that vibe sometimes.

Also Ultimately, I had a great time at this show, except for the end with the kid that I felt pushed too much. I would have preferred her to end the show just before that on the more sobering note. It took us somewhere then pulled back. A few of the moments felt overrehearsed, but many felt spontaneous and genuine. It was a beautiful look at The Constitution written by privileged men, from woman carrying the inherited trauma of American womanhood and the amplified reality we all are learning that the Constitution and much of the government is not concerned with a woman's safety or correcting the wrongs done to us (and other marginalized groups.)... Read more Read less

See it if You want a better understanding of the psychological turmoil Black people experience with their personal relationships with White people.

Don't see it if You are too prudish to be open-minded.

Also This play addressed the unspoken pains of white colonization that Black people carry with them. The baggage that we cannot always articulate or even understand when we experience our white friends, and partners, and lovers. The knowledge that they are oppressors and decendants of torturers. That they are a ”virus” even though they are part of our lives and we may even choose them sexually or romantically.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to be bored and confused.

Don't see it if You want to see a well-constructed, focused piece of theater. If you care that The Flea does not compensate their actors.

Also This play is a hot mess. Not only does it address so many themes at once that it will make your headspin, the direction, is so unfocused, it is just cacophonous noise. The entire first scene is unintelligible, overlapping speech with no clear rehearsed rhythm or point to the confusion because the whole play is already manic and stays manic. It never calms down. The writing as well. Is the professor an adjunct or a TA? Does she teach history or Literature? Is this a play about gun violence or sexual assault or activism or liberal complacency or female relationships or empowerment or racism or or or or??? The 10 points goes to the set which was well-done and the actress who played the sexual assault victim, the only grounded, controlled performance in the production.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see masterful physical and emotional acting from the lead!

Don't see it if no reason not to see it, depsite the second half being incredibly problematic.

Also I absolutely adored the first act. Everyone was incredible, notably Dukes. But the second half was incredibly messy and unfocused by comparison. The actors took on not characters, but caricatures of Black academics and intellectuals and it felt cheap. Soured the effect of the show in the end, but Dukes transformation was mesmorizing.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to hear a bold artistic voice unpack Black trauma

Don't see it if you are triggered by self-harm, unrelenting sadness and grief, loud noises and it would do more harm than good. Power through if you can.

Also Realized I never reviewed this play (new to show score). It was incomplete, could have been longer and with some added elements, maybe an epilogue since there was a prologue and a rap poem in the middle?? I don’t know... I just wanted more cause it was so good. It hit me right in the gut. I was reeling for days. Felt personal and was an intense story of Black trauma around police violence, urban culture, and historical baggage. Entire audience was left broken and distraught. All the actors were so amazing. They were so real. Hope they do this show again.... Read more Read less

See it if you have money to throw around, you like seeing POC dominate a show, you like musicals, you enjoy fluffy entertainment.

Don't see it if you expect deeper choices beyond casting POC, you care about the Bechdel test, you find LMM annoying, you like interesting set design.

Also Ultimately, despite the rapping, this feels like any traditional musical. The women sing only about men and love. It is incredibly heteronormative despite this being deemed a “radical” musical. It’s entertaining, but not particularly thought provoking or edgy.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re intrigued by new interpretations of old works that are concerned with inclusivity and a modern gaze on problematic stories/characters

Don't see it if You love and desire the rehashing of the classic R&H elegance with regard to singing, staging, and interpretation of their iconic works.

Also I can sort of get why purists would hate it. I have a desire to see a classic Oklahoma! with an O'Hara type, see: Kiss Me Kate, but this is something else. There are lots of classics written by conservative, white men. We can accept them as they are, toss them as dated, or as this does, reinterpret and subtly untangle some of the patriarchal, racist, sexist, exclusive elements within past works and use them as tools to engage with the present. I love both things and have no interest in comparing two. The country musicality nods at the inspiration drawn from OK and its melancholy. Its inclusive of actors who wouldnt have been cast in the original (Black/handicapped). It doesnt need to acknowledge this with telling winks, but rather allows you to say yes, of course someone in a wheelchair can dance/sing in a musical, arguably better than the rest. The dream ballet reminds us of who Lori might be in another cultural reality where Black is beautiful and a woman's sexuality is more alive.... Read more Read less

See it if You like a capella groups and queer stories.

Don't see it if You want a super intellectual story. It is simple, but beautiful and well-executed.

See it if You like bubblegum, easy theater. You like O'Hara's voice which is still incredible and stands out from the rest.

Don't see it if You want to see great acting or a show with soul. It's all very vanilla and straightforward, the set, the costumes, the singing.

See it if You want to be entertained for a few hours with great singing and dancing. If Temptations music is nostalgic for you.

Don't see it if You want depth and nuance. This is not a deep show, but it's fun.

See it if you want a play to annoy you. Not the production. The play itself. Staging was great. Acting varied.

Don't see it if you want raw/honest piece about race. Too late...all the white people who showed up to the white man’s play about race should’ve seen Scraps

Also The portrayal of the black character felt so wrong. Why do white people insist on writing Black people as mystical creatures, living in another world? She was not grounded at all. Living in the clouds. Don’t know what Solondz feels about these characters he exploits, so I don’t find this Color Brave (title of The Flea’s current season). It felt like cowardice and cliche. I left with no emotions, just annoyed, but not even useful annoyance or anger or anything. I left unsatisfied and cheated. Just annoyed that I don’t have my time back. One element I did love was the Black actor toiling and moving the set around for the affluent White people to act on. Felt like good performance art. Only element that I found compelling besides the set which was beautiful and cinematic. Ultimately, this play is about whiteness, not color. I almost wish we had never heard from the Black character. Her “presence” just being a catalyst to hear from the grotesque whiteness. That would have been stronger.... Read more Read less

See it if You like attention to detail, sensorial stimulation, gorgeous set design, movement work, minimal language.

Don't see it if You don’t feel comfortable in dark, eerie spaces, you don’t want to wear a mask for hours, you are going to pull out your phone and text.