Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green NYC Reviews and Tickets

90%

(42 Reviews)

Positive

100%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Absorbing, Thought-provoking, Great writing, Intelligent

About the Show

New Federal Theatre and Castillo Theatre bring back this solo show about a black man who exists in five dimensions of the same universe at different points in American history.

'Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green' is a collection of five monologues, all highlighting different parts of African-American history through the eyes of one man. In each of his incarnations—minstrel, cult leader, FBI informant, struggling actor, out-of-work mortgage broker—Abel finds himself stuck somewhere between the American dream and the American nightmare.

Member Reviews (42)

Great acting, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Ambitious, Intelligent

See it if you enjoy barebone productions that rely on a strong script and a skillful actor. Nicholson's performance in all 5 sketches was top-notch.

Don't see it if you need more than one actor. These fascinating historical stories, tho, share the thread of the difficulty of being a Black male in America Read more

Thought-provoking, Intense, Epic, Relevant, Entertaining

See it if Man acts out of ignorance, then sees truth and loses his innocence in each of five eras. Great storytelling, both personal and historical.

Don't see it if You are not interested in different historical settings connected by universal human themes. You don’t like intimate one man shows.

Masterful, Extraordinary acting, Fine, fine theater, Resonant, Thoughtful and thought-provoking

See it if You want to see theatre at its best - nuanced, absorbing, enthralling, genuine. Took my breath away.

Don't see it if Really don't like solo shows. It's a meditation on American black experience, how we treat each other, and the ebb/flow of our decisions. Read more

Absorbing, Enchanting, Great acting, Great staging, Great writing

See it if you want to see a star. This is a fully formed, beautifully prepared piece performed by a consummate performer.

Don't see it if you dont like on man shoes. You are uncomfortable with racial politics. Read more

Absorbing, Great acting, Thought-provoking

See it if you are moved by personal stories, are interested in the black struggle or you would enjoy 5 superbly acted versions of a character's life.

Don't see it if you do not like one-man shows or would not enjoy 5 different versions told within one play.

Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing, Profound

See it if Excellent solo performance in five acts representing different periods in history relating to the life of a black man. A must see!

Don't see it if Do not see if you prefer light musicals or simple dramas. Do not see if you do not enjoy solo performances.

Absorbing, Entertaining, Great acting, Great staging, Great writing

See it if You want to see a great performance by an excellent actor on a simple well put together stage.

Don't see it if You don't like a one man show. You don't want to see a great performance. You don't want to be entertained.

100

Great acting, Great singing, Great staging, Great writing, Masterful

See it if you appreciate insightful, brilliantly created and executed drama re tensions of wealth/security vs. commitment to principles/friendship.

Don't see it if you do not enjoy one-man vignettes in one 100 min. act with minimal but ingenious set from African American perspective but universal theme.

Critic Reviews (7)

“A powerful production...Frighteningly relevant...This iteration of ‘Freight’ captures the essence of its predecessor while expanding (and improving) upon it. Nicholson gives a tour de force performance...I wanted to see more from the female characters and to have more variety among the women...Craft's script never stints, however, on its unflinching look at racism, and the strategies Abel adapts to survive. In all, this is a timely and timeless theatrical journey.”
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“Craft has written a meditation on the consequences of how we treat our fellow man. He’s done this subtly...Each parable manifests a pithy situation with imagination and context...A thoughtful and dramatic entertainment one can enjoy at many levels...Nicholson acts, sings, dances, and plays percussion with talent and focus...Director Megel steers his thespian with a sure and sensitive hand...Only the protagonist’s literally whirling into each incarnation seems off.”
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“The most captivating one man show I’ve ever seen... A poetic and poignant theatrical experience...Craft builds an incredible narrative with each poetic word. His writing is absolutely perfect..Megel’s direction highlights every poetic moment using every theatrical element available to him... J. Alphonse Nicholson is incredible...It feels rare to me that stories are thematically crafted in such a way that stirs spirit and shifts consciousness. ‘Freight’ is one such story.”
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For a previous production

"This rich and thoughtful solo play is most concerned with intimate self-examination: how to be good to one another within black culture, when the larger culture rewards complicity...Mr. Nicholson transforms from one Abel to the next in front of us, and though he doesn’t quite get his arms around the faith healer, he makes the others distinct and entertaining, each a smart man with the charm to hold a room and the capacity to savor memories of past pleasures."
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For a previous production

"Nothing in this 90 minutes is overly flashy, or exceptionally funny, or terribly moving, but it is genuine. It sets out to tell a story, and it tells one. One that may as well be five, or 500, or 5 million. One just as relevant today as yesterday...and even more so tomorrow."
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For a previous production

"The story and Abel’s experience would resonate on a much deeper level if some of the text were replaced with more of these visually-powerful moments that are created using other theatrical conventions than the spoken word. The play is dialogue heavy and a bit thin when it comes to theatricality, save for the beautiful transitions."
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For a previous production

"You'll find yourself surprised and moved by the stories of struggle collected in Howard L. Craft's incisive one-man play. Directed by Joseph Megel and expertly performed by J. Alphonse Nicholson, 'Freight' captures big historical truths in personal, idiosyncratic tales...Craft's meditation on race in America is clearly timely; what's surprising here is his light touch. Humor and song leaven the evening, and a surreal ending offers an escape from Green's troubled world."
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