Blood Boundary NYC Reviews and Tickets

62%

(29 Reviews)

Positive

52%

Mixed

21%

Negative

27%

Members say

Confusing, Thought-provoking, Absorbing, Relevant, Slow

About the Show

In this world premiere drama set in Oklahoma in the '20s, a young man raised in a white family must reexamine his life after learning of his Cherokee relatives.

James faces the tough choice to leave to pursue his medical career abroad, or stand beside his family in a time of racial oppression. The final play of Vicki Lynn Mooney's 'Broken Heart Land' trilogy, 'Blood Boundary' is driven by historical events and set before the 1921 Greenwood Massacre, formerly known as the Tulsa Race Riot—the worst race riot in U.S. history.

Member Reviews (29)

Thought-provoking, Resonant, Relevant, Intelligent, Intense

See it if you like plays based on true events and enjoy thorough exploration of the tension among different people in the 20's that has meaning today.

Don't see it if you are bothered by some uneven acting and or tons of dialogue. There are a lot of scene changes in a show that could use some editing.

Slow, Disappointing, Confusing, Ambitious

See it if you can follow the confusing relationships (even with the family tree enclosed in the program) there is just too much going on.

Don't see it if you want a more polished production with more consistently good actors.

Absorbing, Confusing, Intense, Resonant, Slow

See it if You can overlook an interesting moment in history that needs editing

Don't see it if You're looking for a fully realized production

I cant say this is successful or even tolerable as theater, but it must be seen, Ambitious, Edgy, Excruciating, Thought-provoking

See it if You can overlook the puerile acting. The story is fascinating and deserves to be told. The Trilogy is a vital window into race history.

Don't see it if You want to stay ignorant of this little known time/place/racial divide/laws. The Greenwood Massacre Read more

Absorbing, Thought-provoking, Great acting, Infomative, Edgy

See it if You are interested in a play that is set in Oklahoma around the Tulsa Race Riot and how one family deals with this.

Don't see it if You are not interested in a play that deals with historical events of the worst race riot in U.S history and brings it to the stage. Read more

Ambitious, Confusing, Slow, Relevant, Stiff-acted

See it if you want to understand the complex relationships among and tensions between Cherokee, blacks & whites leading to Greenville Massacre in OK.

Don't see it if inter-racial/gender violence, politically incorrect language, interracial sexual relatons, stiff/awkward acting, 2 hr plus interval disturb Read more

Interesting background for a story, Relevant, Confusing, Uneven acting, Overall worthwhile

See it if You are interested in the story of the massacre, which isn't well known. The show has potential, but I would've liked more focus on the riot

Don't see it if You can't handle somewhat uneven acting or a script referring to a number of extraneous characters that you never see.

Thought-provoking, Slow, Relevant

See it if you enjoy historical dramas, especially dealing with minorities and underrepresented stories.

Don't see it if you can't handle blatant racism on stage.

Critic Reviews (2)

"A worthwhile opportunity to see a play about Native Americans written by indigenous playwright Mooney...Mooney has created an absorbing family drama set against the backdrop of violent racial strife, but her plot is overstuffed...The performances are mixed, with certain actors coming across as less polished...Although this is an imperfect production, it’s an engrossing story...The themes of racial inequality and violence against people of color are unfortunately as timely as ever."
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“The attention to detail is excellent, from the costumes to the hand-painted sign for the hospitality house. The sound and lighting is well-done...The historical aspect is also painstaking in detail and for good reason: the Tulsa Race Riot is absent from almost all US history textbooks…This piece ensures this story will not be lost, and the characters' grief over the riot emphasizes that we ought to be similarly grieved that we are only starting to remember it.”
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