The Niceties

See it if You want to FEEL your theatre. Two great actors sparring with an incredibly timely and relevant script that makes you root for both/neither!

Don't see it if You don’t like theatre that puts your stomach in a knot and makes you rethink some of your core beliefs.

Also I loved this show!!! It wasn’t easy to watch. It made me squirm and made me uncomfortable with some of my beliefs and values and I LOVE theatre that makes me FEEL that much. Bravo!... Read more Read less

See it if Old white history professor locks horns with revolutionary black student. Angry debate and power struggle ensues. Smart & engaging.

Don't see it if You are not interested in a lengthy intellectual impassioned debate. Reminded me of the arguments I have had with my 20-year old daughter.

See it if An under-represented black activist demands her gay uni. prof. change the curriculum. The volleys are smart & balanced. Reliable Lisa Banes!

Don't see it if Smart play about smart women with a dumb ending.

Also Sample dialogue: "I want the white boy treatment."

See it if brutal heavyweight fight where power shifts back & forth btwn rivals; reveals liberal academic blindness, strident student position

Don't see it if at times degenerates into alternating speeches where parties talk past each other; action flags at begin of 2nd Act

Also The play features a real ongoing debate in academia about slavery & the American Revolution. The student contends in a paper that the reason the American Revolution was peaceful is that white leaders, many of whom were slave owners, agreed to sweep the explosive issue of slavery under the rug. The prof challenges this, insisting that the student use traditional historical sources to support her thesis. This is theatrically interesting in contrasting two heartfelt perspectives: (i) the student's personal experience w racism guiding her intuitions about history w (ii) the prof's insistence on use of the standards of her professional calling - objective historical proof (requirement of that type of proof naturally discriminates vs. powerless, non-literate slaves). This conflict underpins the fundamental problem illustrated by the play: the inability/unwillingness of either party 2 see reality from the other's perspective.... Read more Read less

See it if if you enjoy plays about topical issues. Jordan Boatman was very good.

Don't see it if Unrealistic. The conversation did not ring true to me. Teacher so obnoxious, student so outspoken.

Also I was having trouble staying awake (and I was NOT tired). I left at the intermission so maybe everything changed in the second act. But I decided I'd had enough. I felt like I was being lectured to. I did not care about the characters. They just lectured each other and fought, but there was no character development. Again, just reviewing the first act here, but I want to convey how little I was moved to stay for the second.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy 2-character plays in which neither character is the villain. If you like plays that are timely and thought-provoking.

Don't see it if you do not like plays in which everything is not tied up neatly the end. There is plenty to discuss after viewing this play.

See it if Black millennial student airs grievances with white history professor. They discuss evolutionary vs revolutionary change. Unexpected ending.

Don't see it if You don’t mind a play that is driven mostly by a disagreement and discussion of ideas with an Improbable turn of events.

Also Millennial dream: Dramatic change accomplished easily by organizing rally, making accusations, unsubstantiated claims, forcing resignations... Righting all the world’s wrongs at one stroke.
Finding something you care about and fixing it is hard work and takes time but may achieve a worthwhile goal.... Read more Read less

See it if you're looking for an intelligent, well-acted play that tackles race relations and privilege in a thought-provoking way.

Don't see it if you want to see something more fluffy or trivial. This isn't serious in a tedious way, but it gives you a lot to think about.

See it if A bravura performance. Based on a true story, addresses the ways people with different views just yell at each other instead of listening.

Don't see it if The character of the student was so entitled that I wanted to slap her. So did many in the audience.

See it if a stirring modern day drama is something that interest you.

Don't see it if a college campus based race drama is uninteresting to you.

Also OMG! This was one of the best dramas I have seen on stage in a long time. It was interesting from beginning to end. It was WELL ACTED and a well written play. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire 90 minutes!!!!! BRAVO!!!... Read more Read less

See it if The acting and writing in this play are top notch- the dynamic between actors is sensational-it's a chess match on a roller coaster.

Don't see it if You don't want think about race and social class and education and all that is relevant about this in our culture.

See it if you want an intelligent debate on the history of race in America where neither side is all right or all wrong.

Don't see it if you don't like political debates or two person plays.

See it if up for a deep, fraught, overwhelming dive into racial injustices delineated with verve but also—at times, unnervingly—with anger & defiance.

Don't see it if prefer narrower scope or resolution; averse to bracing confrontations. Joins American Son & Travisville as vital, vibrant discourse on race.

See it if you will enjoy a 2 character play involving alleged racism pitting a black student against a white professor; you enjoy very good acting

Don't see it if you might find the first act a bit long; you don't like 2 character plays; you prefer musicals

See it if You want to see a play that looks at both sides of the racial debate. Allows the audience to make its own conclusions on "right" and "wrong"

Don't see it if You feel like a play such as this needs to take a firm moral stance because there can't be shades of grey.

See it if you are willing to look past extreme, unrealistic dialogue and unbelievable characterization to deal with the very important issues of bias

Don't see it if you want your plays to draw you into the action rather than put you off. A missed opportunity to explore important issues of bias/ignorance

See it if You want to think through how even some variation in beliefs can pull us apart if we're not careful. You like intense dialogue between 2 ppl

Don't see it if You want something light and just for easy entertainment. You prefer tidy endings.

See it if you like debate: evaluating different sides of a question and issues that arise in academia.

Don't see it if you are not willing to consider alternative ways of presenting U.S. history.

See it if You want a thought provoking realistic struggle of race relations. You want a night of emotionally charged material that will get you angry

Don't see it if You are sensitive and liberal. You can’t be critical about your own race and other races. I really liked this show. Made me really think!!!

See it if You enjoy two-hander dramas that discuss intense historical and political themes and plays that make you think.

Don't see it if You briefer lighter, more active fare. This play is all two people talking about controversial subjects.

See it if You want to be riveted by the problems we face with our divisive community.

Don't see it if You can't take debate, hard issues and conflict generally.

Also Unfortunately, I came out of the show thinking were doomed, we can't really see eye to eye.... Read more Read less

See it if you like confrontational theater

Don't see it if you are not open to differentideas about racism

See it if You like shows that reveal the racial tensions in the academic community. Very intimate production.

Don't see it if You don’t like contemporary plays

See it if You want a thought-provoking play about race, privilege and college campuses.

Don't see it if You want characters who are nuanced and open to evolving.

See it if If you want to see an intelligent impassioned debate between current points of view, represented masterfully.

Don't see it if If you want lighthearted entertainment, or an action show.

Also This is an important play for current academic environments especially