SLAVE PLAY 2021 Previews

Back to work, work, work, work, work, work.

Slave Play returns to Broadway tomorrow night as previews begin at the August Wilson Theatre; opening night is set for December 2 and the limited engagement run will conclude on January 23. Slave Play is written by Jeremy O. Harris and directed by Robert O’Hara. The ensemble piece features Ato Blankson-Wood, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Jonathan Chad Higginbotham, Devin Kawaoka, Chalia La Tour, Irene Sofia Lucio, Annie McNamara, and Paul Alexander Nolan.

I read this for a college class just days after the original Broadway production closed and the pandemic started to escalate. I have not seen this on stage yet, however.

“Over one explosive weekend, three interracial couples inhabit the confines of a sprawling Southern plantation. As the heat is turned up on their volatile relationships, the line between fantasy and reality blurs and history begins to repeat itself. In this ‘ballsy, ferociously funny work’ (The Hollywood Reporter) by Jeremy O. Harris, biting satire and dark humor couple with righteous anger and raw sensuality to create ‘one of the best and most provocative new works to show up on Broadway in years’ (The New York Times).”

Who’s going?

I’m happy it’s coming back because I didn’t get to see it again. Financially I have no idea why it is. I also have no idea why it hasn’t shown up on TDF yet.

n2nbaby said: "I’m happy it’s coming back because I didn’t get to see it again. Financially I have no idea why it is. I also have no idea why it hasn’t shown up on TDF yet."

I could be totally wrong, but I wonder if the stipulation of the production getting SVOG money meant that it had to reopen.

I saw this in its initial Broadway run and had very mixed thoughts, mostly negative in terms of the uneven structure and sometimes poor writing. The physical production itself was quite impressive, particularly in the scenic/costume design and direction. And I'm all for theatre that shocks, provokes, and requires you to think and internalize—but I kept expecting that the night would conclude with some more powerful, nuanced commentary other than racism is really bad. For me, shocking and provocative theatre needs to end by touching or moving you, but I didn't really get that by the end of the show.

I know this show is very intensely polarizing and that others will wildly disagree with me, but those are my two cents. Curious to see if anything changes in this new run or if it'll be an exact remount. No way it sees a profit, though.

I keep forgetting this is coming back. Add me to the camp of folks confused by its return. I pretty much loathed this when I saw it a couple years ago.

Jordan Catalano said: "Is it possible money was put up by someone with the intention to film it?"

This is quite possible. He has a lucrative deal with HBO, perhaps they're filming it to stream on HBO Max. I'm not a fan of his but I will give Harris his due, he looks to be putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to equity in theater.

Personally? I think the play is terrible. Offensive in ways it doesn't even intend to be. I also love theater that shocks and provokes, but the shocks have to mean something. And the provocation can't feel so cheap.

I enjoyed the play, but I don’t think it is as sophisticated as it is touted to be. I found the the race elements handled very superficially, the “psychology” of the piece was muddled and it was dull at times. I think the cast, the staging, the costumes and the hype all elevated what truly feels like a first play.


Harris is very very smart. He has parlayed this into celebrity and he’s currently in Madonna’s inner circle (another person who often used provocative themes to mask stilted work.) She posts with him all the time. Then again she loves attaching herself to whoever is hot and provocative. His time with her may be limited.

I absolutely loved this play and can't wait to see it again with a new cast.

Bettyboy72 said: "I enjoyed the play, but I don’t think it is as sophisticated as it is touted to be. I found the the race elements handled very superficially, the “psychology” of the piece was muddled and it was dull at times. I think the cast, the staging, the costumes and the hype all elevated what truly feels like a first play.


Harris is very very smart. He has parlayed this into celebrity and he’s currently in Madonna’s inner circle (another person who often used provocative themes to mask stilted work.) She posts with him all the time. Then again she loves attaching herself to whoever is hot and provocative. His time with her may be limited.

"

Well stated.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Can anyone confirm that Slave Play DID receive SVOG money? I don't know what the entity name was, but keyword "slave" doesn't bring up any results in the publicly-available spreadsheet of recipients:

https://data.sba.gov/dataset/svog"

Yes, it's listed as Antebellum Fever Dream LLC, $6,257,672.

SouthernCakes said: "Yeah I agree it was more hyper than what it was, and he’s a smart man to name it such a provocative title.

To me this felt like Lori-Parks slave play - I can’t remember the title - but the message was basically slavery sucks. Like yes, we agree, but what else are you trying to say? There was no there there. But the production as a whole was well done. But no clue why this is coming back. You can’t even call it a revival so I don’t get how it does anything for anyone involved."

I think he was trying to say that the legacy of slavery has irrevocably wounded relationships between black and white people, even in the bedroom.

Updated On: 11/22/21 at 10:31 PM

SouthernCakes said: "Yeah I agree it was more hyper than what it was, and he’s a smart man to name it such a provocative title.

To me this felt like Lori-Parks slave play - I can’t remember the title - but the message was basically slavery sucks. Like yes, we agree, but what else are you trying to say? There was no there there. But the production as a whole was well done. But no clue why this is coming back. You can’t even call it a revival so I don’t get how it does anything for anyone involved."

Also no offense but this is such a typical white person response to any play that tries to dig deeply into race relations. It reminds me of the hysterical parents screaming about banning Toni Morrison.

troynow said: "YOU ARE RIGHT!

This show can open and not sell one single ticket and complete their run. They received the full weight of the SCOG money.



Is really a shame... There are meaningful shows like Dana H/ Is this a room, Thoughts of a Colored Man, and Trouble in Mind opening up without any government support just the will of the people.



Then we have shows like this that take advantage of the system. Also for the record like Waitress did as well."

And Slave Play closed before the pandemic lockdown. Not sure how it even makes sense that they were funded. It is a shame the Vineyard shows are closing early.