Let The Devil Take The Hindmost (FringeNYC)
About the show
Part of FringeNYC: Set in 1969 Washington DC, Vera, an African American math teacher and her husband Pablo, a Latino Art Professor, attempt to make sense of a violent decade, their rocky marriage, and what the future holds for their politically active daughter. More…
Categories: Drama, Comedy, Local. Written by Maya Contreras. Directed by Lorca Peress.
"'Let the Devil Take the Hindmost' is that rare play that gives a critic almost nothing about which to complain...It belongs at the Public Theater or even on Broadway — it is that good…Lorca Peress directed, and I can only admire the way she brought the script to life on stage. Every movement had a purpose…The producers have a piece of theatre here that I think would win not only artistic praise but also would be commercially successful well-beyond the FringeNYC festival." Full Review
"‘The story focuses on the fraught marriage of Pablo, a college professor, and his high school math teacher wife. The complex and bitter relationship the two share is an interesting spectacle to watch as it unfolds…The onstage chemistry between the two is magic…This play is more nuanced than a simple focus on racial tensions. Covering topics such as interracial relationships and privilege amongst minorities themselves, the outcome is a thoughtful and fresh production." Full Review
“There are a lot of social injustice issues touched on in this piece and at times it seems like Peress is not attuned to dealing with all of these problems simultaneously. Even so, the issues of sexism and race pulse throughout the production and the wonderfully written text allows for a lot of rich themes to be played with and explored. I hope to see this production on a larger (non-festival) scale because it would more accurately set the scene...Still...this is a show worth seeing.” Full Review
"'Let the Devil Take The Hindmost' is a play about a middle class, mixed-race family that offers a modicum of poignancy and levity but little urgency. The implied point of the piece gets buried by the desultory details...Director Lorca Peress oversees a competently professional cast, but as Vera, Farrar transforms from over-the-top to sympathetic without the credible arc or dramatic jolt that might have justified the digressive-feeling scenes that lead up to it." Full Review
"A professional cast overcompensating for a clown car of a script brimming with parent-child tensions, a mother with dementia, an inappropriate student-teacher relationship, the Vietnam War and fraught race relations — here including, but not developing, those between blacks and Latinos...The most lasting impression at Wednesday’s performance was an anachronistic Lee Child paperback all too visible onstage." Full Review
"Deals with a family that, in resolution, blames its dysfunction and destruction on a racially provoked murder...Unfortunately, the few minutes allocated to this disclosure do not validate Vera’s alcoholic self-destruction or the need to merely touch upon a vast array of other equally important issues...At times the plot seems implausible given the situation and circumstances...It is difficult to have much compassion for the underdeveloped characters." Full Review
See it if you are drawn to contemporary or historical civil rights history.
Don't see it if you are not in the mood for engaging your intellect.
See it if You love intelligent and eloquent dialogue that is not only an important piece of history but also still relevant today.
Don't see it if You don't have an appreciation for fantastic acting, heartfelt writing and well thought out character connections.
See it if Want to see a drama that challenges our views on race and identity and how it effects family life.
Don't see it if You are looking for fluff. This is the wrong show for you!
See it if You are ok with crying. I cried at the end, but I laughed a lot as well. Wonderful.
Don't see it if You don't want to cry in public.
See it if This show was not what I expected. I was expecting a straight drama but there was so much lovely humor throughout the show.
Don't see it if You can't handle relevant social issues!
See it if wonderful and poignant portrayal of the joys and struggles in everyday-life of a multi-racial family during the late-60s Civ Rights in DC.
Don't see it if N/A... there is something to be taken from this performance for just about every person.
See it if you are ready to explore subtle and not so subtle ways anger shows itself in our families when we deny it space & continue business as usual
Don't see it if you are comfortable with the way things are now and aren't interested in digging a little deeper to find meaningful connections with others
See it if You're into exploring intersections of race, class & privilege through an uncommonly-told narrative.
Don't see it if You like your stories black & white, with little gray area.
See it if You like green eggs and ham
Don't see it if You have any form of hepatitis
See it if You love drama with an infusion of humor. I thought it was wonderfully engaging on the subject of race and different aspects of privilege.
Don't see it if You're looking for a comedy. There are fantastic comic moments. If this turns into a 2 act I can see that being expanded, but it's a drama.
See it if You want to see a show where the subject matter is as relevant now as it was in the 1960s and the acting and writing are great.
Don't see it if You want to think and reflect.
See it if You enjoy plays that touch on social issues but also have a delightful sense of humor, have great dialogue and a ton of emotion.
Don't see it if You don't enjoy having a good time and/or are avoiding any form of entertainment that touches on social issues.
See it if You enjoy diversity in casting and dramas dealing with social issues
Don't see it if You like all your questions answered