I'm just over here like...
Slave Play, while far from a masterpiece, is provocative, entertaining, and very “now.” Daddy and Black Exhibition were total wastes of time and painful to sit through.
Jeremy as a person is just downright insufferable:
“ When he finally burst into the Soho restaurant 45 minutes late, he was a flurry of friendly apology. Sweeping off his coat to reveal a Gucci sweater emblazoned with the words “If They Did But Know,” his long braids swaying insouciantly, he ordered a dirty martini and when it arrived promptly sent it back for not being dirty enough.
When I reminded him that he did the same thing when we first met in L.A. at the Chateau Marmont for an introductory drink, he squealed with delight, called himself a “little dauphin” and proceeded to order a dozen oysters.”
It’s a no for me.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
TotallyEffed said: "Slave Play, while far from a masterpiece, is provocative, entertaining, and very “now.” Daddy and Black Exhibition were total wastes of time and painful to sit through.
Jeremy as a person is just downright insufferable:
“ When he finally burst into the Soho restaurant 45 minutes late, he was a flurry of friendly apology. Sweeping off his coat to reveal a Gucci sweater emblazoned with the words “If They Did But Know,” his long braids swaying insouciantly, he ordered a dirty martini and when it arrived promptly sent it back for not being dirty enough.
When I reminded him that he did the same thing when we first met in L.A. at the Chateau Marmont for an introductory drink, he squealed with delight, called himself a “little dauphin” and proceeded to order a dozen oysters.”
It’s a no for me."
Sounds like delightful company x
Stand-by Joined: 5/14/14
I don't think Jeremy is being literally serious. He's provocative, clearly has a specific kind of humor. I also don't think the idea of a playwright/director wanting to work with queer actors on their work is that big of an issue? I suppose putting things like that in a casting notice might be bad (but look at Daniel Fish's upcoming production of The Most Happy Fella, where he is specifically seeking out trans/non binary actors, which is a great thing and no one batted an eyelash.) but in general, if you feel like your play would benefit from being an overwhelmingly queer/black/female/etc space, why is that bad? Who is being hurt by saying "this is who I would like to work with/see interpret/give employment too?"
For what it's worth, I met Jeremy at a party a few months ago, where he was talking and socializing with some very big people, and literally turned around, shook my hand, asked for my name, and chatted with me. Of course that's just two very small minutes out of someones life, but he didn't come across as smug or mean at all in the time I observed him.
"Look at me! Look at me!"
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
devonian.t said: ""Look at me! Look at me!""
https://youtu.be/NQywVJeRFVc?t=111
Y’all...it’s a joke. It’s Twitter. That’s the point of Twitter. He’s a performance artist.
Having said that, I’ve never seen a performance by a man I didn’t think would be improved by its being played by a woman. So.
Harris asks interesting questions, and his focus on reaching a wider audience, and specifically creating a space for Black audience members, is to be lauded. We need a hell of a lot more artists like Jeremy O. Harris.
All these people saying it’s a joke. Could someone expound upon what makes it funny? Because... it’s not.
He’s insufferable. Kudos to him for being provocative and bolstering an oft-overlooked theatre community, but with everything I’ve seen of how he conducts himself in interviews and on social media? F*ck this guy.
GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Controversial opinion: Jeremy O. Harris is obnoxious and the attention he’s gotten from one play has gotten to his head. Boop."
I’m with you on this.
Dionysus3 said: "Y’all...it’s a joke. It’s Twitter. That’s the point of Twitter. He’s a performance artist.
Having said that, I’ve never seen a performance by a man I didn’t think would be improved by its being played by a woman. So.”
I agree. When watching Daniel Day Lewis play Abraham Lincoln, I kept thinking how much better Susan Sarandon would have been.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/26/16
I'll let others analyze and dissect his words in a more academic manner. I'll just say what we would have said in the old neighborhood. The guy's a schmuck.
Dionysus3 said: "Harris asks interesting questions, and his focus on reaching a wider audience, and specifically creating a space for Black audience members, is to be lauded. We need a hell of a lot more artists like Jeremy O. Harris."
"Yes" to that.
Jordan Catalano said: "Dionysus3 said: "Y’all...it’s a joke. It’s Twitter. That’s the point of Twitter. He’s a performance artist.
Having said that, I’ve never seen a performance by a man I didn’t think would be improved by its being played by a woman. So.”
I agree. When watching Daniel Day Lewis play Abraham Lincoln, I kept thinking how much better Susan Sarandon would have been.”
Eh, I think I’d prefer Tilda Swinton or Glenn Close. Maybe Cate Blanchett.
Fame is a different animal now. Having a brand, a large personality and being provocative is currency. Talent is only one small part. The bells and whistles are the other 75%. Harris is a provocateur and is getting a lot of attention for it. Why would he stop? I’m not saying I like it, but I don’t know how serious he is. I think he likes people to clutch their pearls and talk about him. He’s pleasant in person so those who know him probably truly know it’s an act of sorts. He is an actor too.
All sorts of famous people want to work with him and are kissing his a#*. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is gleefully manipulating fame and taking full advantage. Again, why wouldn’t he? In one year he’s gotten more covers, awards, press and productions than some lauded playwrights have in their entire career.
Like all celebs, he is collaborating and cross marketing in fashion, luxury brands, endorsements and as a model.
I think he’s smart as a whip even if he exhausts me at times. I do think he needs to focus on his writing if that’s his bread and butter (I thought Daddy was abysmal, Slave Play was ok.) However, he’s diversified himself so writing is clearly not his only income.
As they sing in Gypsy, “you gotta get a gimmick.” I think he’s got one.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
Now he says anyone who thought it tacky has no sense of humor. I think he’s an immature provocateur with little respect for the people who put on his play. From defending phone use to this “joke”, it’s just all offputting.
GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Controversial opinion: Jeremy O. Harris is obnoxious and the attention he’s gotten from one play has gotten to his head. Boop."
To be fair, he was positively insufferable in his three years at Yale.
They couldn’t wait for him to graduate.
Bettyboy72 said: "Fame is a different animal now. Having a brand, a large personality and being provocative is currency. Talent is only one small part. The bells and whistles are the other 75%. Harris is a provocateur and is getting a lot of attention for it. Why would he stop? I’m not saying I like it, but I don’t know how serious he is. I think he likes people to clutch their pearls and talk about him. He’s pleasant in person so those who know him probably truly know it’s an act of sorts. He is an actor too.
All sorts of famous people want to work with him and are kissing his a#*. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is gleefully manipulating fame and taking full advantage. Again, why wouldn’t he? In one year he’s gotten more covers, awards, press and productions than some lauded playwrights have in their entire career.
Like all celebs, he is collaborating and cross marketing in fashion, luxury brands, endorsements and as a model.
I think he’s smart as a whip even if he exhausts me at times. I do think he needs to focus on his writing if that’s his bread and butter (I thought Daddy was abysmal, Slave Play was ok.) However, he’s diversified himself so writing is clearly not his only income.
As they sing in Gypsy, “you gotta get a gimmick.” I think he’s got one. "
100%.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/19
Let’s stop talking about him and maybe he will go away
Dionysus3 said: "Harris asks interesting questions."
Name one.
My guess is that JOH will continue to ride the success of SLAVE PLAY to a couple more commissions, which will lead to disappointing results, while continuing to market himself as a brand. It will fizzle out eventually. DADDY was a disaster of a play that was rightly trounced by critics. He has a play opening at Playwrights Horizons in the spring, and that will be a test of whether there’s really any there there.
I liked SLAVE PLAY mostly for the brilliant performances and Robert O’Hara’s inventive direction, but I think the play itself is overpraised. And so far, it seems like Harris’s chief talent is in crafting his own image.
LOL these tweets read like a stan <edited by BWW staff>>poster with a meme profile picture who says stuff like “Music Man did nothing for the gays. Stream Beetlejuice.” Maybe he believes what he says is true, but it’s also probably not meant to be taken thaaaat seriously (said to get people riled up by taking an extreme stance) And it’s hella funny (TO ME!). The only thing that is a little strange is that usually these statements are made by private spam/finsta accounts... not from a critically acclaimed playwright. Can an influential figure like Harris pull words out of his <edited by BWW staff>> for the luls? As seen on this board... no.
Maybe stop paying attention to him.
LOOK AT ME! I'M CONTROVERSIAL!
Greatly admire him but here he's being a transparent provocateur. And what he's saying is reductive and stupid and, unlike Slave Play, shallow AF.
ColorTheHours048 said: "All these people saying it’s a joke. Could someone expound upon what makes it funny? Because... it’s not...."
Not all jokes are meant to be laugh-out-loud funny. The joke here is the reversal of decades of remarks from straight men about how they couldn't hire gay actors because the audience wouldn't accept them playing "straight" characters, particularly not romantic ones.
I don't find his remarks particularly witty, but I am reminded of the time 25 years ago I wore a button to grad school that read, "Please Don't Feed or Tease the Straight People". People--including close friends of mine--went absolutely ape $hit!
And I could only think of the many borderline-homophobic remarks I overlooked every day...
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