One in Two

See it if If you like a story about aids epidemic in the black community. A play told in a different way than usual.

Don't see it if Can be a little hokey at times breaking the fourth wall and in its delivery.

See it if you want to see a gimmicky but serious & sobering PSA about the persistent proliferation of AIDS in the black gay & bi communities.

Don't see it if You're looking for some lite entertainment or strictly conventional theater; you don't like your fourth walls broken (or your hearts).

Also This is a difficult show to "score" as any criticism of the production obscures the very personal, fervent passion of the creative team who should be commended for their efforts to shed light on this scourge that continues to plague the black gay/bi/queer community in alarming numbers.
Most of my score is for the admiration & ambition of the messengers, less so for the quasi-absurdist delivery of the message.... Read more Read less

See it if Love's impassioned, angry, autobiographical cri de coeur regarding black male HIV status & its perceived lack of attention Bracing & defiant

Don't see it if Despite its compelling call to action, dramaturgy gets too meta & often loses focus & strength Yet potent outcry towards black homophobia

See it if you like Love’s work, or have any interest in the ongoing HIV epidemic among young black gay guys.

Don't see it if Metatheatricality gives you the hives: Here the “characters” break out of character routinely to rearrange the play.

Also Donja R. Love is 1 of my favorite playwrights to have emerged in the past few seasons: I would see any new play of his without hesitation. I do not think “One in Two” is his strongest work, but it is personal, passionate & deeply engaged. It looks at the ongoing HIV epidemic among young black gay guys. My disappointment? Lots of the particulars of the short scenes these “characters” enact feel too generic to tell me a lot about the texture of the lives of a young black man newly diagnosed with HIV. We hear a lot about how the participants in a therapy group are so “tired” but little helps us understand what makes them so weary. But the beginning & ending, the most metatheatrical parts of the play, when the “actors” rebel most forcefully (& eventually take over the show) are very powerful. And anything that helps focus outside attention on the ongoing epidemic in this most vulnerable population could have inestimable value for individual lives.... Read more Read less

See it if you like clever, unusual one act plays about self-esteem, especially among young African American men, rapid fire dialogue, identity issues

Don't see it if you don't like nonlinear works set in non-specific locales, contemporary and blunt issues among African American men, nudity, crude language

See it if urgent cry for help; graphically shows misery under AIDs threat/homophobia but shot thru w humor; talented cast

Don't see it if play hits you over the head w message, employs perplexing absurdism where straight drama would be more effective

See it if Statistic 1 as voice of the playwright, with assist of Statisics 2 and 3, relates his grim story of surviving his black death health status.

Don't see it if "Dreamstate" play is code for novice playwright.Great set opens doors to slurs,profanity,sexual situations,nudity.One in every 2 black/gay.

Also "You aren't alone in this, the hurt is a bigger virus/I would like to like myself/Your body's on point, but your eyes are sad/I'm tired of the trade"... Read more Read less

See it if See 3 characters play different roles (such as bartender, nurse, Mom). One guy is HIV+ and shows many raw emotions (drinking, drugs, etc).

Don't see it if You're offended by front/rear nudity, simulated anal sex or drug use. It's an affecting powerful show that runs 87 minutes.

See it if You want to see a stunning play. Different from standard drama. Where does it start? When does it end?

Don't see it if You have a problem with stories about HIV in the Afro-American gay community.

See it if You appreciate gimmicky stories about aids.

Don't see it if You want a real play telling a real story.

See it if interest in HIV epidemic re: black gay men, passionate reveal of life status, engagement in abstraction, humor & drama in the telling

Don't see it if no interest in engagement in issues, dislike these adjectives... black, gay, Hiv infected, experimental, gimmicky, humorous, overly dramatic

Also A return to 1970s experimental theatre, agitprop, absurdism in its presentation. A necessary telling of a story not told before...... Read more Read less

See it if Talented cast of three in a play about the sadness and dysfunction of an HIV positive black gay man. Touching, informative and funny.

Don't see it if The actor playing the lead part is chosen by the audience at the start. So each actor must know all the parts-- from sad to hilarious.

See it if want or need to be educated about the significance of the Aids crisis amongst black gaymen. Use of "childsplay" promotes the innocence in us

Don't see it if you prefer not to be manipulated by a not too clever playwright. Includes simulated sex scenes.

See it if You want to see a play unlike many you might have seen about someone being HIV positive. You have an open mind and not easily offended.

Don't see it if Seeing three black queer men play different roles in an attempt to shed some light on being HIV positive makes you uncomfortable

Also The staging design looked simple but was very creative and effective for this show. This is a very interesting concept for a play and there were very intense moments. There will be some nudity and simulation of sex acts. This was bold and different so come with an open mind and think about the message. I enjoyed it and was touched by what the "One in two" was going through.... Read more Read less

See it if a fan of Donja R. Love’s thoughtful work; invested in a metafictional story about an HIV-positive black, gay playwright confronting truth.

Don't see it if you prefer straightforward, uplifting plays; uncomfortable with simulated sex, homosexuality, and some (brief) nudity; unsettled by blood.

Also I’ve enjoyed Donja R. Love’s other plays and while one in two is a more personal work—an homage to ten-years since the playwright’s HIV diagnosis—it still carries a great weight of emotional resonance about the black experience in America and history. A semi-memory-play, in one in two, three unnamed, numbered men are in a waiting room: a purgatory. They play-act a diagnosis and attempted suicide but surprises and unexpected encounters along the way make the men question who they are, how they got there, and what they desire. Staging is deceptively simple, giving way to stunning, surprising complexities—like life itself. Mostly, this 90-minute “endless” play exposes the loneliness and desperation of a triple-minority (black, gay, HIV-positive men) too often ignored or discredited. It is not a perfect play but it’s a raw, honest, and forthcoming one that definitely provokes audiences—and we are hesitant to leave when the play is “over” because the crisis at the heart of it never is.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in plays about HIV that are very non-traditional in format with some good acting.

Don't see it if you dislike plays that should be emotionally affecting but lack much poignancy due to an extremely annoying unorthodox script & production.

See it if you appreciate innovative, small cast, minimal set, dark contemporary theme, realist drama about gay black male sexual relationships and HIV

Don't see it if you can’t tolerate uncomfortable drama themes and scenes, including explicit black gay male sex, language, violence, and considering suicide

Also This play is the most vivid, explicit, dramatic portrayal of the experience of “living” with HIV that I have seen. Although some scenes and characters are comic stereotypes, they serve as fools to the tragic plot.... Read more Read less

See it if Opens a world many people are unaware of, AIDS crises in black LGBT community. Presented in a funny, dramatic, unique, heartbreaking style.

Don't see it if You do not care You think it will be too distressing You think you know it all You want a feel good show

Also You will miss an unusual presentation if you miss this.

See it if you're interested in stories about queer men of color.

Don't see it if you like straight forward narratives.

See it if It’s an ABSURDIST play, but, there’s NOTHING absurdist about it. It’s semi-autobiographical. It’s cathartic & therapeutic for the audience

Don't see it if & author, even if you’re NOT a Queer Man Of Color. There’s brief nudity, simulated sex & violence, and harsh language, but, it’s all within

Also The flow of this 90-minute play. The audience “picks”, in the beginning, who they want to play whom; I feel that I received the best version of the “picks”. The ending was a bit different- I didn’t know what to do, but, a great play on a tough subject (H.I.V.)...... Read more Read less

See it if a tremendous amount of theatrical artifice is used to make a point, although the message is poignant and worth hearing

Don't see it if discussion of the construction of play and broken fourth wall are some of the devices used to tell the​ story

Also Ambitious construct with excellent acting. The story is relevant and important but agonizing to sit through. Not because it is sad, and painful, which it is, but also over told, overdramatized​, and drawn out as well as being slow as molasses and repetitive.... Read more Read less

See it if You like pared down productions about the serious reality that 1 in 2 black queer men are living with AIDS A clever use of the stage sets

Don't see it if You want a fun light night out. While this is “entertaining “ it’s a tough reality

See it if you're interested in the life of gay men who live with the danger of getting aids. The 3 actors are very talented.

Don't see it if you want a traditional play with sets.

Also I couldn't wait for the play to be over, so I couldn't recommend it.

See it if you like unusual depictions of important issues

Don't see it if you are triggered by strong language or simulated sexual situations

See it if See it if you want to see a creative exploration of black and gay culture and the roll of HIV in it.

Don't see it if Your play must have a resolution. The play stops rather than ends, part of the message but hard for the audience.