Liza Jessie Peterson's solo piece offers a fierce, comic, and shrewd indictment of the systemic inequity within America's fastest growing industry, tracing its roots from the plantation to the prison yard. (Past Reviews) More…
From the show:
Betsy LaQuanda Ross is a self-proclaimed "Peculiar Patriot," who makes regular visits to penitentiaries in order to boost the morale of her loved ones. When she is not sharing neighborhood updates and gossip, Betsy illuminates our country's cruel and unjust criminal justice system and its impact not only on the 2.3 million people behind bars, but also their family and friends. Written and performed by the inimitable Liza Jessie Peterson and inspired by her decades-long work with prison populations including on the notorious Riker's Island.
See it if you'd like a strg blend of entertainmt/educatn. Liza, as the force-of-nature Laquanda, reveals the joys/woes of life in black America.
Don't see it if you need gr staging (it's repetitive) or want just-the-facts (mixes personal/societal). Impt discussn of bl incarceratn. Delightful acting.
See it if You want to see a one person show that is as entertaining as it is informative. What first felt terribly cliched soon became obvious truth.
Don't see it if You are a racist or if you hate one person shows. This was eye opening to how racist our prison system really is.
Also This show made me squirm a bit in my seat. I think as a white man it w... Read more Read less
See it if Adapted for audio, Betsy becomes her own "personal prison GPS" to JoJo on the other side. Astute and honest:"I'm supposed to be the victim"
Don't see it if Static. Stand-Up; sitting down. As talented an actor as she, a broader range is within her reach. The war on drugs targets the have-nots.
Also "You're my homey pastromey/You might not be addicted to drugs, but you... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see Liza Jessie Peterson do a tremendous job acting out her show. She is a powerful entertainer.
Don't see it if the idea that nurture is organic is foreign a bit disgusting to you - it is to me
Also In the first preview the Sound Design came up a bit short, but that wa... Read more Read less
See it if Connecting the prison industrial complex with slavery: private companies and gov profiting from enslaving Black/Latinx bodies in prisons.
Don't see it if Prisons are triggering. More anecdotal way to convey ideas from 13th, the documentary.
Also Diversity: yes! Black woman actor and stories of Black communities imp... Read more Read less
See it if You want to heard from a woman of color and her opinion on justice in the US.
Don't see it if You are Unsympathetic to changing the criminal justice system, this won’t be your show.
See it if great one person show about the prison system and how it affects family...
Don't see it if you don't like one person shows...
See it if You like one-person shows about black experience with the criminal justice system
Don't see it if You don't like one-person shows, are easily offended by profanity or have no interest in black experience with the criminal justice system.
See it if want to know what it’s like to live within an unjust drug sentencing system that metes 2jail sentences: long ones for blacks, but not whites
Don't see it if The American Criminal Justice System is not a topic you wish to delve into and explained to you in a very intimate witness & undeniable way
Also Ms. Liza Jessie Peterson is a master orator and story-teller. She mesm... Read more Read less
See it if You’re open to seeing the prison pipeline as modern slavery—if you liked her book you will resonate with this play.
Don't see it if Issues surrounding race, race relations, and Black Lives Matter are not important to you.
Also This was the most engaging one-woman play I have ever seen—she holds t... Read more Read less
See it if you like clever stand-up solo shows with lots of shtick that anyone would get but tilted toward an Afro-American audience; very engaging.
Don't see it if You don't like stand-up; get annoyed if you don't get all the jokes because as a white person I missed some nuances; you're easily offended.
Also Liza was delightful and so talented. I only wish I got more of the hum... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy solo shows and are comfortable with strong political views and urban language
Don't see it if your not engaged with solo performances or a text driven performance
See it if You want to see creatively told show about the prison system. The playwright/actress wove in facts/statistics/stories that kept it engaging
Don't see it if You don’t like one person shows about important subjects
See it if a one-person show about the calculated inequities aimed at African Americans in the criminal justice system appeals to you.
Don't see it if you don’t like one-person shows, you’re a racist or you’re not interested in plays with a social justice message.
Also This show was powerful, funny, sly and very entertaining, while at the... Read more Read less
See it if you like one person shows, comedy, and laughing while being forced to think about social injustice.
Don't see it if you want a big production or a big cast.
See it if Well performed. Interesting idea. Character vivid. It held your attention
Don't see it if Tired of one person shows. There are so many of them now and this is not one of the best
See it if you want to have a personal view of the criminal justice system from the perspective of a woman whose community and family have suffered.
Don't see it if you are unsympathetic to the perspective of persons that have suffered from the criminal justice system.
See it if The exploration of the prison economy in such an engaging and entertaining way is a daunting achievement. One woman act!
Don't see it if You don’t mix entertainment and politics.