One in Two

See it if you'd like an unusual theater piece w impt HIV message. 4th wall broken; self-aware play. Not all scenes work, but fascinating. Strg acting.

Don't see it if you like tradl theater. Or uncomfortable w gay stories. Noise of video #s distracts.Ending is unique; crisis continues. Moving. Arresting.

See it if Though confusing at first, it grows into a writing tour de force that is tragic, brilliant and painful.

Don't see it if You dislike issues of homosexuality and HIV.

Also This has the potential to be as relevant as Angels in America for a different population.
Though the direction needs polishing, the message is earth-shaking.
I appreciated the very tactful and mostly discreet way in which sexual scenes were portrayed.... Read more Read less

See it if Absurdist incisive play-within-a-play shows how HIV stigma & toxic masculinity contribute to the horrific 1-in-2 among black gay & bi men.

Don't see it if You don't want to be challenged with heavy, disturbing scenes. Male nudity, gay sex, depression/suicide, loss of identity.

See it if Acting is superb. Feelings are so real.The Playwright had to tell his story. Even some humor sneaked in.

Don't see it if Huge disparity between our ratings; one a 60% and the other an 85% (see also)

Also Story is stale, Not positive images. Less than 70 in the audience (threat of snow maybe) Is this theater for the masses?... Read more Read less

See it if you want to understand the statistics and the psychological effects of HIV in the Black community, here on an interesting set w/a good cast.

Don't see it if you cannot face facts and be open to understanding the prejudices aimed at Blacks and gays facing health issues and societal acceptance.

See it if semi autobiographical play re: the horror of numbers & the stories behind 3 of them; terrific acting/writing/ direction/set design/lighting

Don't see it if looking for something light - here we have racism, LGBT issues, self hatred, love & simulated sex scenes (which are handled with discretion)

Also The good news is that the play has some funny, tender and uplifting moments and the playwright is with us to tell his story.... Read more Read less

See it if you like this theater space. It’s one of my favorite theaters to see a show in the city

Don't see it if You are expecting a straightforward play. This involves three actors playing multiple parts

Also The title of the play informs us that one out of every two gay black men will become HIV-positive. That really is sad. If I were gay and black I would have protected sex. There is a scene in this play that absolutely drove me crazy. The main character is on the telephone and being propositioned and he is asked if he has a “dirty dick “his responses no he is clean. Then this character comes over to his place and just as they are about to have sex the character throws the condom on the floor. After they are done having sex the new character is not interested in any relationship so it’s almost made into a joke that it was OK to possibly infect him with HIV simply because he wasn’t interested in having a relationship. The audience also pulled a sheet of paper out of a machine before the show started with a number on it and that was never used in the play just a total waste of paper... Read more Read less

See it if Powerful performances, powerful topic. Shines a light on an issue many aren't aware of. AIDS isn't over, especially in the black community.

Don't see it if I found it riveting, but it wasn't as emotionally involving as I'd hoped. I expected to dissolve in a puddle of tears at the end. I didn't.

See it if A series of vignettes which introduce us to multiple characters who intersect. The diversity of HIV+ men. Equal talent energy and tone x 3

Don't see it if You prefer not to see nudity and watch simulated sex (MSM). You are not interested in the subject.

Also The set owes a lot to the ingenuity seen in Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. Lovely.

These three radically different men playing multiple characters form a core that I search for in every play. Their acting styles differ but they give us a cohesive world.

The low score is because as much as I wanted to be enthralled, I wasnt. I found my mind wandering. I appreciate much and admire more, but it just missed. Vital information is being delivered here and our playwright does not always make it easy to watch.

The playwright's program note is vivid. I had read multiple articles both about him and the play, but as he did not author them, they were not as resonant. I remembered it after the play began to fade. Except for One in Two.

It deserves a second watch.... Read more Read less

See it if If you like original & different theater, if you do not mind non-sequential story telling. If you are interested in racial issues of gay men

Don't see it if If you are sensitive to HIV issues and the relationship to race or if you prefer traditional & sequential plots.

See it if you enjoy the kind of theater that does not preach but rather helps you understand why an issue is important in a creative, visceral way.

Don't see it if if you think the AIDS crisis is over, particularly for black gay men.

See it if you want to see a unique approach to discussing the aids crisis. Told creatively with humor and love without blame or guilt. Talented cast

Don't see it if you don't want to hear anything about aids or you need a complex set.

See it if Trauma of contracting HIV and living with HIV as a gay Black man but trying to change the narrative to not end with death/tragedy.

Don't see it if HIV/AIDS or suicide are triggering. Processing of trauma in a gay Black perspective is too much for you.

Also Diversity: all Black gay cast!
Ticket from in-person rush for $12.... Read more Read less

See it if Moving performances on the topic of being a gay Black & HIV man & handling the phobia in the black community. Donja Love Is a gem!

Don't see it if You are uncomfortable about LGBT topics or the Black community, this will not be your play.

See it if a different perspective of the hiv crisis of a group that is usually overlooked. non linear and very contemporary

Don't see it if don't like being addressed directly and need a straight forward narrative

See it if QUEER BLACK theater is your THANG!

Don't see it if depictions of QUEER BLACK subjects, AIDS, and a non-traditional theatrical format is not your cup of tea. No shade intended!

Also I wanted to love this play, but I found it UNCOMFORTABLE to watch. Still I support playwright Donja R.Love for creating work that facilitates discussions of the subject matter that wasn't happening before he put the topics out for all to see and discuss. Bravo my brother!... Read more Read less

See it if You are drawn to contemporary stories of Black men, the HIV epidemic, Family & Relationships. Open to non-linear/very creative storytelling.

Don't see it if Offended by frank language, sexuality, gay relationships.

See it if you want to see a well paced play that gives you a different perspective on a community of suffering people you probably do not know about.

Don't see it if you want an uplifting play. It is meant to educate but does its message is not very clear as to why HIV is different for black gay/bi people

See it if You are curious about HIV, specifics related to the African American community (hence the title), or relevant theater, even if it misses...

Don't see it if You want a complete story. It’s alluded to in the play, but it’s worrisome when the ushers come back (twice!) to tell the audience it’s over

Also I was drawn to the title and the horrific statistics it discusses, but the play never went any deeper than the statistic itself. I really wanted to see this explored more.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re troubled by the question “what is an appropriate way to tell a specifically black story?”

Don't see it if you are unreasonably frightened by the bucking of theatrical conventions

See it if you want to see a play about how the AIDS crisis is still affecting the gay black community. One in 2 gay black men are infected with AIDS!

Don't see it if if you want to see a black play about the AIDS crisis.

See it if You want to understand what it means to be a black man facing the probability of getting HIV: one in two will get HIV during their lives.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in what happens to people without resources to be healthy or get treatment (meds) for their HIV infections.

See it if You want a new voice dressing AIDS

Don't see it if You don't like the non-traditional theater

See it if you want to see a poignant and timely expression of the frustrations HIV-positive black men face

Don't see it if difficult subjects or nudity bother you or you are triggered by mentions of suicide

See it if astonishing experience exploring the dynamic of young black gay men-all three actors rotate the parts decided randomly. stays with you

Don't see it if Stories with gay themes, male nudity, suicide ideology are triggers. Unconventional theatricality-don’t likeshows that break the fourth Wall