American Moor (Red Bull Theater)
Closed 1h 25m
American Moor (Red Bull Theater)
82

American Moor (Red Bull Theater) NYC Reviews and Tickets

82%
(142 Ratings)
Positive
89%
Mixed
11%
Negative
0%
Members say
Great acting, Thought-provoking, Absorbing, Relevant, Intelligent

About the Show

This drama takes audiences into the audition room as an African-American actor responds to the demands of a white director presuming to better understand Shakespeare’s iconic black character, Othello.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (142)

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228 Reviews | 42 Followers
87
Relevant, Intelligent, Great writing, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if You love theater, if you are a Shakespeare fan, if you like one-man shows, if you are open to considering other opinions

Don't see it if You want a comedy, you have a closed mind, you are unwilling to think about your preconceived notions.

305 Reviews | 98 Followers
86
Thought-provoking, Great writing, Great acting, Clever, Absorbing

See it if You have ever wondered what actors are actually thinking while auditioning . Is Shakespeare still relevant ? Short answer..yes.

Don't see it if You have no patience for actors and/or Shakespeare , but in that case you wouldn't have come to this show at all. Read more

563 Reviews | 194 Followers
86
Thought-provoking, Intelligent, Great writing, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if You want a social commentary on Othello as is pertains to historic & contemporary race relations. You want an insider look at auditioning.

Don't see it if You want a lighter play. You're not interested in race studies and/or acting process stories. You want to see a full production of Othello.

56 Reviews | 4 Followers
85
Brilliant acting, brilliant script, absorbing, entertaining, educational

See it if you're interested in seeing one man's emotional exploratory journey as an actor between his past ancestral legacy and the script of Othello.

Don't see it if you're not interested in seeing an actor's emotional self- exploratory journey between his ancestral past and the character of Othello.

110 Reviews | 8 Followers
85
Resonant, Intelligent, Great acting, Entertaining, Ambitious

See it if you want to see a great actor in a very thought-provoking show about what it means to be a black man in America, particularly a black actor.

Don't see it if you aren't open to seeing things from a black man's perspective, you're not interested in (almost) one-man shows, or you hate Shakespeare.

187 Reviews | 211 Followers
85
Great direction on the perfect set, Great writing, Brilliant performance

See it if you appreciate brilliant acting in what's essentially a 1-man play. See it if you're interested in the art of acting, Shakespeare, or race

Don't see it if If you're more interested in musical theatre, are offended by the 'f' word, or don't like one-man shows.

216 Reviews | 58 Followers
85
Great script and acting, Intelligent, Compelling, Thought-provoking, Clever

See it if enjoy theater that makes you stretch your empathy, emotions, and understanding of experiences and struggles outside your personal realm

Don't see it if dislike Shakespeare; looking for something light; don't enjoy one-man shows; no interest in a discussion of a black Othello Read more

441 Reviews | 88 Followers
85
Thought-provoking, Great acting, Edgy, Exquisite, Absorbing

See it if Cobb is excellent as an actor trying out for Othello with an extraordinary inner dialogue of what it means to be a man of color.

Don't see it if Do not see if you do not enjoy a solo performance.

Critic Reviews (14)

CurtainUp
September 14th, 2019

"There's a white man sitting in the audience taking notes at this 'American Moor'"
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Front Mezz Junkies
September 15th, 2019

"A dissection and dissertation of America as a whole, and our communal understanding of a strong African American male bursting force with anguished emotion, 'coming on like a stiff prick' making all those 'Mr. Director Man' characters wiggle uncomfortably in their seat."
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Theatre Reviews Limited
September 8th, 2019

"Mr. Cobb's almost-one-man-show is a trope, here an extended metaphor, for the pressing need for dialogue around the systemic racism. The playwright makes it clear that unless we take his cautionary tale seriously, we risk the opportunities for meaningful and transparent dialogue..."
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New York Theater
September 11th, 2019

"Journey towards understanding Othello, enhanced by Cobb's terrific performance… an exploration of the perilous, putrid waters even an experienced actor must navigate…shot through with what it's like to be a black man in America…ultimately feels like a staged argument."
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Broadway Blog
September 16th, 2019

“Burningly provocative…Speaking with ardent, even furious, authenticity, the actor uses an unusual mixture of ordinary discourse, earthy street talk, and polysyllabic, self-consciously polished rhetoric… The dice often seem a bit loaded to justify Keith's anger, frustration, and insights.”
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Off Off Online
September 19th, 2019

"The play toggles between the Director's comments and the Actor's thoughts. Watching Cobb makes it clear that he has the goods to play Othello. Strangely, his biography doesn't list it, although he's been Theseus and Oberon, Julius Caesar and Aufidius. Is the spur for this play his failure to be cast in the role? If so, what a missed opportunity."
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