No Man's Land
The Anthropologists’ world premiere uses the real-life story of a dad who tried to make his daughter a princess as the jumping off point for an intense examination of racism.
Four actors set out to wrestle to the stage the true story of American dad, Jeremiah Heaton, who planted a flag in the African desert to make his daughter a true princess. They attempt to expose this modern-day fairy tale’s roots in systemic racism and white privilege. What follows is an outrageous, inappropriate, and sometimes painful confrontation with their own bias as they take the journey to telling a new story.
- Official Site
- 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Already closed
- Theaterlab (Midtown W)
Cast & Creatives (12)
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Reviews (17)
4 Critics' Reviews
"‘No Man's Land’ carries out a thoughtful and entertaining full-throttle investigation of a single story based on real-life events…The team has done a fine job of showing the deep personal importance of the issues while expanding their thoughts to include a wider range of perspectives. Most importantly, it does this without bring preachy, or dragging the audience to the psychologist's couch…It's uplifting but realistic, courageous but honest." Full Review
"Given its focus on identity, race, and theatrical narratives, the new play 'No Man's Land' could not be more timely...Keeps the audience pleasurably on its toes while it tries to hammer out its own existence. It's aided in this by strong, versatile, entertaining performances...This is a very smart play that acknowledges the messiness of trying to tell this story or any story, and insists on characters that are correspondingly less than perfect." Full Review
"Encouraging imagination and make believe, this show has a romper room-like atmosphere with homemade costumes and dollar-store props...This 90-minute play uses humor to touch on racially focused police brutality, however the late introduction of a female refugee’s plight in the play failed to have the deep meaning desired. In the end it was hard to decipher the story’s main thrust and the audience was left wondering what they were fighting for." Full Review
"A morality play meets zany variety show; there can be no funnier work about one of our most squirmy topics—how whites and POC speak to each other about race—currently on the NY stage...The productive tension between dialectic and hilarity leaves you high—in the way of a workout rather than a drink, you've made progress...Evenly performed in the spirit of 'devised investigative ensemble theater'...each actor lives up to the challenge of this most vulnerable genre." Full Review
13 Members' Reviews
See it if You are a human being concerned about the social injustices and prejudices that are occurring in the world.
Don't see it if You do not have an open mind.
See it if you LOVE devised theatre and performance art; you want to take action after seeing the show; you want to be provoked.
Don't see it if you prefer simple storytelling with a simple message.
See it if You like devised work, enjoy fast-paced, energetic performances, have questions/feelings about privilege and what that means.
Don't see it if You are looking for a traditional narrative or a tragedy, dislike devised work, don't like theater that challenges the status quo.
See it if There are no ifs! It's a must see! Great EVERYTHING.
Don't see it if Not in the cards. :) You must go!
See it if you like bold, inventive theater experiences w/ smart & challenging & often-funny take on the complex realities of race & power in the U.S.
Don't see it if you like your theater tidy. This show is not tidy. It is not about tidy topics, so it should not be tidy. It is, as it should be, messy
See it if you're interested in conversations about race and privilege told with heart and humor.
Don't see it if you have problems with devised work
See it if you enjoy being thoroughly entertained, while also being challenged to think about how the telling of a story can be a very powerful weapon.
Don't see it if you don't enjoy a good laugh, or if you are incapable of being open-minded (on second thought, do see it, because you need it most of all!).
See it if you want to be entertained and educated...
Don't see it if Can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from see it...
See it if You are interested in issues of race, identity and media culture.
Don't see it if You only want a light comedy. There is a lot of humor in the show, but also a lot of serious moments.
See it if you are willing to examine your beliefs and clean the lens through which you look at life
Don't see it if you would rather have the Fox guarding the hen house
See it if You want to be challenged to think differently, and you want to laugh and be moved at the same time.
Don't see it if You are sensitive to discussions of race, gender, or sexuality.
See it if You like thought-provoking, different, amazingly acted, and funny shows. It was entertaining, interesting, and unexpected.
Don't see it if you don't like being pleasantly surprised and thought-provoking plays.