EST's new drama confronts the history of a great medical breakthrough by telling the forgotten story of a community of enslaved black women who involuntarily enabled the discovery. More…
In 1840s Alabama, Philomena assists a doctor - her owner - as he performs experimental surgeries on her fellow slave women, trying to find a treatment for the painful post-childbirth complications known as fistulas. Reframing the origin story of modern gynecology, "Behind the Sheet" tells how these women supported each other, and questions who, and what, history remembers.
See it if you enjoy good drama based on history, presented in an intimate, well-designed space, with a good cast who make you feel the pain endured.
Don't see it if you do not like reliving times in which black people were treated as property and used in inhumane ways.
See it if you're interested in forgotten history, slavery & medical experimentation with human subjects, fan of EST's science commissions,
Don't see it if you're not a fan of historical plays, upset by depictions of pain, blood & slavery, easily confused by multiple locations in a single scenes
See it if you want to see a thoughtful play that gives voice to those who didn't get to write their own history, and is excitingly theatrical.
Don't see it if you want a happy ending.
See it if you enjoy plays based on science. This play explores the early days of gynecology and the exploited slave women who participated.
Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with how African American slaves were exploited.
See it if You are interested in a didactic telling of what I would expect to be a fascinating subject. Program notes made me want to learn more.
Don't see it if You want a fleshed our depiction of this subject.
Also It was well presented on an all purpose stage. ... Read more Read less
See it if interested in learning of little known episode in 1840's of forced experimental surgical procedures on female slaves with postpartum pain.
Don't see it if you can't handle scenes of physical & emotional suffering.
Also Story is well told & beautifully acted. At times touching, at times ho... Read more Read less
See it if historical* subject of how black female slaves were used for multiple painful experimental surgeries - the beginning of modern gynecology
Don't see it if don't want subjects of women in pain or blacks being treated as property
Also * some liberties/fictional details added - but they are well done and ... Read more Read less
See it if Historical drama about medical experiments on female slaves . Intense and touching , strong cast .
Don't see it if Do not see if you prefer light dramas or if you are sensitive to viewing individuals in pain and a realistic portrayal of chronic illness.
See it if You want a bit of history sprinkled with fiction about a medical breakthrough and the role that enslaved black women had in it.
Don't see it if You are not able to see a play that depicts a period in time where enslaved black people did not have the right to say NO.
Also This play was very interesting and informative. The performers did a g... Read more Read less
See it if you are interested in the issue of racism through the lens of a fascinating historical episode with fine acting, insights & charactizations
Don't see it if you dislike plays that could use editing in order to lessen repetitive scenes that cover the same insights and messages.
See it if Intersectionality of slavery (white supremacy, Black = animals and suffering), women, women's health, and lack of/recognition in history.
Don't see it if Slavery, racist lines, or women in pain are triggering.The Black women feel empowered, but it's still a slave play where they're the victims
Also Ticket from website for $34.50.
See it if You want to learn more about a dark chapter of medical history.
Don't see it if You’re annoyed by any amount of clunkiness in writing (doesn’t 100% avoid stiffness common in historical plays) FYI theatre gets hot.
See it if Serious theater, shinning a spotlight on unknown abuses of slave owners. Another horrific episode of medical abuse of blacks in America.
Don't see it if The facts are brutal and difficult to hear. Whatever PETA protests, this was more painful. Done by dominant people to weaker people.
See it if Painful, excruciating, slow, powerful, rich, beautiful, extraordinary and sad, intensely sad. And worth seeing.
Don't see it if Enslavement, women's history, and the history of medicine are complex subjects worthy of representation.
Also I don't know how these gifted performers can sit in this piece night a... Read more Read less
See it if you like stories about complicated subject matters. That show the prices paid by women for advancements of others.
Don't see it if you don't like serious plays with a dark subject matter.
See it if to see fictionalized account of horrific period of US history. This story should be heard by all. Well acted, written, directed and staged.
Don't see it if you don't want to confront some of the ugliest legacies of slavery. If you can't bear to see painful subject matter.
Also The musical Hamilton asks "who lives, who dies, who tells your story?"... Read more Read less
See it if open to quietly intense drama about shameless exploitation of enslaved women to pursue medical success; bitter humor; powerful performances
Don't see it if wishing to remain ignorant of this brutality enslaved women suffered—but exposure to this silenced history is too important an experience
See it if For the performances and production values - both exceptional.
Don't see it if You would have a problem with fictionalizing a character into more of a villain that the facts support. Read the program afterwards.
Also The bit about foregoing anesthesia was a bit misleading. According to ... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see a profound exposure of historical medical events not well known that involve enslaved black women in the 1840's.
Don't see it if on a night where you can't bear the pain of how badly slaves were treated
Also This was a powerful play. I happened to see it the night after I saw t... Read more Read less
See it if You enjoy well done tales of shared human suffering that are endured to lesson human suffering. Stories of the pain of being worth less.
Don't see it if You mind some slavery fiction cliches and playing loosely with the history. The play not resolving various threads.
Also This is an elite original off-off production that should be seen befor... Read more Read less
See it if You want to see great script, acting, staging, beautiful costume blended in a small theater. A masterful play on a horrific subject
Don't see it if You want something light,dont want to listen story of the slaves told from their perspective,medical experiment on slaves will make you cry
Also This is one of the best show I have seen in a long time. The only reas... Read more Read less
See it if you're interested in the story of badly treated slaves who served as test subjects for an ultimately heralded doc. Every element here shines
Don't see it if you're irked by plays that wouldn't satisfy if the events weren't true. The relationships capture our interest but not the imagination.
See it if Little known historical subject matter that will illicit strong emotions. Totally memorable, stimulating, vivid performances
Don't see it if Medical procedures make you squeamish and you want something light