a photograph: lovers in motion NYC Reviews and Tickets

64%

(17 Reviews)

Positive

47%

Mixed

35%

Negative

18%

Members say

Great acting, Slow, Ambitious, Disappointing, Entertaining

About the Show

This drama offers a bold and prescient exploration of love within the world of Black creative artists in the waning years of the Black Arts Movement in San Francisco.

From the show:

A love story about the challenge of commitment and trust; about violence (relational, intimate, verbal, physical), cast, class, desire, and the making of art. In the interplay of a dancer/poet and a photographer – two arts forms, two wounded/brilliant people – a drama of intrigue, lovers in motion. in their orbit are three characters (all of whom are afflicted with the kind of insecurities and delusions only available to those who learned of themselves through the trauma of racism) they struggle to communicate, to create their own image, to create their world when the country as a whole, its history, its daily pulsation are contested and disfigured. The struggle becomes a kind of combat breathing, leaving little more than moments of fury and homicidal desire; yet, they struggle to love. A memory play.

Member Reviews (17)

Edgy, Quirky, Slow, Great acting, Clever

See it if you want to see Ntozake Shange's work adapted and directed by her sister with nice music compositions and interesting choreography.

Don't see it if you do not like conflict and a central character who uses people to no end. An extremely long first act at almost 2 hours is difficult.

Ambitious, Disappointing, Overrated, Great acting, Slow

See it if You want to see top rate acting

Don't see it if If you are patient because it’s slow!

Overrated, Disappointing, Ambitious

See it if You love the writings of Ntozake Shange with her poetic phrasing and floral dialogue. Actors did a great job with the material given.

Don't see it if Direction and staging plays is an integral part of your personal enjoyment. This play was way too long and needs editing. Read more

Shameful, Dated, Great writing, Great acting, Disappointing

See it if you enjoy great poetry, great writing and great choreography and are willing to suspend your evaluation of the subject

Don't see it if you think a show embracing misogyny and abuse, especially by a great writer, has any place on stage in 2020. Read more

Period piece, Great writing, Great cast & performances, Ambitious, Slow

See it if The work of Ntozake Shange interests.

Don't see it if Relationships in 1977, misogyny and the Black Arts Movement at the time hold no interest. Read more

Emotionally distant, Had some moments, Way too long, Belabored. repetitious

See it if you want to see a 1977 period piece with occasional powerful interludes of prose; don't cringe at some outdated female 'archetypes,"

Don't see it if you expect that this revised, refocused version of a 40 year old play to be an improvement over the original Read more

Cliched, Quirky, Long, Ambitious

See it if you like poetic language performed by a strong cast

Don't see it if you don’t like quasi-stereotype characters or misogynistic men

Slow, Thought-provoking, Intense, Intelligent, Entertaining

See it if You're a fan of Ntozake Shange, whose works can be profane but difficult

Don't see it if You're not ready to think a little during the performance

Critic Reviews (2)

"While the play at times seems overheated...the energy and passion of the actors help carry it along...Bayeza has obtained fascinating and full bodied performances from her cast of five, but her technique and blocking still seem somewhat rudimentary.
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Score: 65% "The dialogue is part prose and part poetry and has a lovely richness to it. Unfortunately, it is lost to over staging, music, and dance."
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Trailer

Creative team

Negro Ensemble Company