The Fall (St Ann's Warehouse)

See it if Students lead a social justice movement in South Africa. Singing and chanting. Debate over the course of action. I was immersed and moved.

Don't see it if You don’t enjoy social justice plays, or the point of view of millenials. You don’t want to learn more about race & class issues.

See it if play written by cast about their involvement in a protest movement at the Univ. of Cape Town; monologues interspersed with singing

Don't see it if don't want issues of racism & colonialism; don't like minimalist sets; want dialogue rather than mostly monologues

Also A very talented group whose stories are very moving.
They do a lot with only 4 tables on the stage.
There are individual stories of obstacles and discrimination as well as group dynamics.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to learn about "movement" dynamics & challenges of intersectional analysis but not if you are looking for something compelling

Don't see it if You want to encounter activitists with an authentic voice -these are silly composite characters - representing various lines of argument

Also Maybe it's because I am a professional organizer that I had such a bad reaction to this play. I have participated in every one of the internal debates that form the center of the story & watched them evolve & play out generation after generation. I can appreciate eithrr parody of the left or real honest stories of struggle but this retelling of real stories of struggle through a set of representational stereotypes - ugh - it was offensive and demeaning to the organizers & activists that actually undertook these efforts. These
composites had ridiculously predicable short comings in their world view(s) - it left me cold. This reminded me of bad 1970s-1980s lefty alternative theater. The only thing was real interest to me was using this as a way to begin contrasting & comparing the struggles depicted here from post apartheid South Africa to similar periods of campus organizing in the US over the last 50+ years.... Read more Read less

See it if you'd like a true story of South African students who want to eliminate racism and bias at their university; how far are they willing to go?

Don't see it if you're not interested in issues of race, gender, patriarchy, bias; play sometimes becomes a little preachy, but heartfelt

See it if you like thought plays. And stories that are told in non-traditional ways. And if you're interested in politics of race and humanity.

Don't see it if if the above doesn't appeal to you!

See it if you are interested in devised theatre focusing on race and inequality.

Don't see it if you aren't interested in political theatre

See it if You enjoy thought provoking plays about real life events and issues with great acting.

Don't see it if You want to take a blinds eye to some very poignant and troubling issues or are in the mood for something light and fluffy.

See it if You enjoy political ensemble pieces. You want to learn more about the student protests in South Africa, as well as race politics as a whole.

Don't see it if You do not have an open mind, are not willing to LISTEN and attempt to understand the messages that these young people are conveying.

See it if you want to see protest theatre, the themes are important ones, but the format was not for me

Don't see it if you're not interested in South African politics

See it if you are interested in social change, social justice, Decolonization, want to hear original xhosa tunes from South Africa.

Don't see it if you'd rather not think about racial issues, protests, politics and academy.

See it if you want to be inspired through raw emotion, group chemistry, and real footage to invoke social change and justice.

Don't see it if you are strongly opposed to political theatre or are not interested in socio-political movements about race, gender, and economics.

See it if You are interested in post- apartheid S.A. Talented company created this piece. You want to be moved yet again by young people's activism.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in the subject matter. Don't like simple ensemble work.

Also To be honest, I was in the top row and had a hard time hearing some of the dialogue so missed a few key moments. That said, the power of the piece and the effort of the movement came through - the young people are wonderful performers and their passion is deep. Wept openly a few times at the never ending struggle for justice.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in South Africa's move away from apartheid and how race & class come into play.

Don't see it if you have no interest in S. Africa or you don't like shows with minimal sets/staging.

See it if See how people with a cause come together want to see things from many points of view recognize the tensions for change

Don't see it if dont want to confront tough issues

See it if You are interested in internal movement dynamics regarding race, class & gender

Don't see it if If you are looking for a story thachronicals how change is made - this is focused on the importance of holistic worldview not change making

See it if You care about racism, our terrible federa government, how seemingly piwerless individuals can resist.

Don't see it if You like Trump.

See it if you are interested in historical perspective of student involvement in issues in South Africa; wonderful ensemble presentation

Don't see it if you want light entertainment without any serious or thought provoking messages to consider.

See it if you're interested in resistance movements--student or otherwise, Black Lives Matter, the process of how young people discover their politics

Don't see it if you already know too well the inevitable splintering and infighting that infect liberation movements after the heady first days of protest

Also What gives this piece its special voice and urgency is that the seven outstanding protestors/drama students/performers were witnesses or participants in the decolonization movement at the University of Cape Town. As they speak directly to us of their pain and triumphs, their youthful energy and hard-won realism are alternately moving, hopeful, sad and energizing. The movement and song that animate the performance are galvanizing and speak volumes about their ultimately optimistic vision.
That these young people are in it for the long haul and here to tell the tale gives some measure of comfort to our own resistance movements, whether that looks like pulling down Confederate monuments, marching against gun violence, or fighting entrenched institutional injustice.... Read more Read less

See it if A searing look at ongoing discrimination at a South African university. Done in the style of documentary theatre. Eye opening.

Don't see it if You don’t like intense political discussions. The South African accents take awhile to get used to.

See it if You recognize the need for student protests and the problems within these movements

Don't see it if You're a conservative who doesn't understand systemic oppression