SHUT DOWN SLAVE PLAY- Page 3

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/21/19 at 4:09pm

The OP may not have seen the show and may just be throwing around the “shut it down” refrain blindly, but it’s also clear some of you failed the read the petition writer’s reasons for objecting to the play. Namely, they were objecting to Harris’s treatment of African-American women, which I think is a valid critique given that Harris wrote a queer, Black man into the piece but chose to make the straight, Black woman the main character (if there even is a main character, since it’s largely an ensemble piece) and have her bear the eventual brutality that occurs in the final scene. Just because he’s Black and queer doesn’t mean Harris is above critique for writing a play about a sensitive subject that only semi speaks to his life experience.

Personally, I think the original petition writer is missing the forest for the trees and the intentionally incendiary tone the production sets. I’m also playing Devil’s advocate because I found it to be more of an idea in search of a narrative than a successful evening of theatre. Additionally, it’s not my place as a White man to tell a Black woman their experience was invalid.

Updated On: 6/21/19 at 04:09 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/21/19 at 4:22pm

ColorTheHours048 said: "The OP may not have seen the show and may just be throwing around the “shut it down” refrain blindly, but it’s also clear some of you failed the read the petition writer’s reasons for objecting to the play."

I started reading it, but then it seemed to get a bit spoilery about a show I didn't see, so I didn't want to know too much before I see it (if I see it). But if a show has content that people find offensive, do we know whether that could be what the author intended? Ultimately, if a show traffics in bad ideas and offensive stereotypes without any specific intent but spewing nonsense, one would hope it wouldn't get produced, sell many tickets, or find an audience.

Ironically, this pushback would more likely intrigue people to go see what the fuss is about, rather than inspire the producers to cancel the run.

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 6/21/19 at 4:26pm

Whomp, whomp.

First of all, the play isn't as edgy as folks make it out to be. And it's actually very smart. The slave part is honestly such a small part of the piece. That slave scenes are really about the audience, not what's happening on the stage, imo.

The off Broadway set was an entire wall of mirrors, so while all the slave antics were happening, you were looking back at yourself and everyone in the audience, checking their reactions.

Who's laughing at the slave being threaten with a whip?

Who is disgusted by the audience member throughly living for the indentured servant indulging in leather play.

Who is cringing at the mistress, demanding demeaning sexual acts from the "mulatto" slave?

The edginess of the slave "play" is a device to check your own ideas about race and the terrible time period. That mirror is so important imo, and I'm not sure how they will pull that off in a Broadway house. It's honestly another character.

With all that said, this petition is stupid. Its art. And good art is rarely ever PC, easy to understand/digest or nice.

I'm a Black person btw.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/21/19 at 4:28pm

haterobics said: "ColorTheHours048 said: "The OP may not have seen the show and may just be throwing around the “shut it down” refrain blindly, but it’s also clear some of you failed the read the petition writer’s reasons for objecting to the play."

I started reading it, but then it seemed to get a bit spoilery about a show I didn't see, so I didn't want to know too much before I see it (if I see it). But if a show has content that people find offensive, do we know whether that could be what the author intended? Ultimately, if a show traffics in bad ideas and offensive stereotypes without any specific intent but spewing nonsense, one would hope it wouldn't get produced, sell many tickets, or find an audience.

Ironically, this pushback would more likely intrigue people to go see what the fuss is about, rather than inspire the producers to cancel the run."

I think the friction between controversy and open discussion is exactly the purpose of the play, but I can also see that *how* that conversation is carried out could strike some folks as transgressive. Is the play racist? No. Is it offensive? Depends how easily offended you are. It’s all a matter of opinion, frankly.

I guess the point of my post is that the OP and the petition writer are welcome to their opinion, but the outrage over the play’s subject matter is sort of part and parcel to how it got written and produced in the first place.

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 6/21/19 at 4:46pm

haterobics said: "I started reading it, but then it seemed to get a bit spoilery about a show I didn't see, so I didn't want to know too much before I see it (if I see it)."

Honestly, I would high suggest not looking into stuff that could spoil the show. This petition really made me want to know what they were talking about and I ended up spoiling the show for myself. I really wish that if I did end up seeing this, I could go in completely blind. This is my fault but damn this play is clever. 

[msmp]

Posted: 6/21/19 at 7:02pm

I'm so, so glad stan Twitter doesn't know about this production yet. They won't know what to do about it except shriek.

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 6/21/19 at 7:19pm

msmp said: "I'm so, so glad stan Twitter doesn't know about this production yet. They won't know what to do about it except shriek."

What does stan Twitter have to do with this? It's not like stan is synonym for a the easily offended, like I hate stans as much as the next person, but I do not get how that has to do with this play at all. Not like this play is going to kill BMC again 

Updated On: 6/21/19 at 07:19 PM

[veronicamae]

Posted: 6/21/19 at 11:11pm

This thread has been a ride. I can't stop being bewildered that the writer of a play aka the person who came up with the plot, setting, dialogue, and created characters, and the director who brings that vision to life, have nothing to do with the content of the play.

Wow.

What universe is this?

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/21/19 at 11:14pm

DoTheDood said: "Honestly, I would high suggest not looking into stuff that could spoil the show. This petition really made me want to know what they were talking about and I ended up spoiling the show for myself. I really wish that if I did end up seeing this, I could go in completely blind. This is my fault but damn this play is clever."

Yeah, this thread has already told me too much, so I'm checking out after this... So as long as these SJWs don't kill the show, I'm more than likely going to see it now, so thanks!

[binau]

Posted: 9/14/19 at 7:23am

So looks like this didn't work? lol.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/14/19 at 10:15am

EL OH EL

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/14/19 at 10:20am

Bwaydreamer3 said: "But again I think the petioner went in there, got offended by one thing and was unable to let it go for the rest of the show. The point of the show is not to depict the real life of slavery. Its literally not, so first we need to get that out of our heads. Second, if the white audience is laughing that sounds like a problem with the audience, not the play. The playwright said himself this is a comedic play that is suppose to make the audience uncomfortable. So should you be surprised at laughing... probably not. As a black woman I see things all the time that that offend the very being of who I am...but only when they say they are something and prove themselves another. This play never says its an accurate depication of slavery and for that matter you can be offened but you cannot be mad at what it does. Because it never said it was that to begin with. (Hopefully I'm making sense"

 

Very well put.

I saw the play the other night. It went to a place that I was not expecting even knowing a bit about the use of slavery in the show.  When I left, slavery was on my mind but not in the forefront. This play is about more than that. It is hard to talk about it without giving things away.

I agree, this woman was struck by something, most likely in Act I, that she couldn't let go of. Unfortunately that probably stopped her from understanding what was really going on. 

I am seeing it again with a black female friend in a few weeks. I want to be with her when she sees it. I suspect her reaction will not be the same but that she will get what the show is really saying.

Also, After seeing this and Fairview, I was a mess after Fairview and it took me a week to work through it. I found that this show, for lack of a better term, kind of tied things up at the end. I didn't have as much swirling around in my head because they just kind of lay it right out there. That is what I think is making people uncomfortable. Just my opinion/observation.

 

[Dolly80]

Posted: 9/14/19 at 6:46pm

Troy do you wanna elaborate on Whoopi ‘walking out’ again please?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/14/19 at 8:02pm

Dolly80 said: "Troy do you wanna elaborate on Whoopi ‘walking out’ again please?"

I will not wait for Troy to elaborate:

1. The house manager was not going to let her stay in the theatre after everyone else had left.

2. She did not get so drunk backstage that they had to carry her out or, worse yet, put her on a stretcher.

Case solved. Matter closed.

[IAMREADING]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 12:01am

Videos emerging on Twitter of what looks like a talkback? q&a after the show? of a white woman screaming that the play is racist against white people

Just saw the amazing @SlavePlayBway by @jeremyoharris after which a white audience member jumped up and accused him of being “racist against white people.” The confrontation proceeded from there. Clips in this thread. #slaveplay

https://twitter.com/adambkushner/status/1200624536661696513

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 1:22am

Jesus. I just watched the video and I’m trying to wrap my head around what the f*** is wrong with this lady. I’m not sure it she’s uneducated, stupid or both. Racist against white people? What? If you don’t like the play, that’s cool and I’m sure Jeremy O Harris would agree but c’mon lady... white people are insane (and I say this as being a white person).

[carnzee]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 2:30am

I didn't listen to her whole rant. I think some white people who have struggled(or are somehow 'marginalized') are just not receptive to messages about marginalized groups they don't belong to. I'm not making excuses for her rant, I'm just trying to figure out what caused this outburst.

Of course, it's entirely possible to endure a lot of crap but still be a part of a privileged group. That's what this lady doesn't get, I guess.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 9:54am

Plays are not "shut down" because anyone or everyone is offended. This one is no exception. It's almost parody outrage to read of petitions and angry objections supposedly inspiring a cessation of performances. This piece raises many questions, but as two black friends in theater say, the discomfort here for many is the play being performed in a traditional white space: Broadway. Most of the audiences are 90+% white, so that the content lands in a very white cultural environment. People squirm. It's not a feel-good entertainment, and shouldn't have to be, but it's all enhanced by this venue. I'm not sure that's a bad thing, shaking up white space. But then I'm white and male. My privilege informs my idea of "shaking up." Two black women I know felt this aspect was troubling.   

For the record, my issues with the play are all craft-specific. I subjectively believe it could accomplish what it sets out to do with more sleight of hand if it were 30 minutes shorter. Its middle feels bloated and repetitive, and we wait for things to wrap up. This windy self-indulgence has nothing whatsoever to do with the content, but the length (2 hours 10 minutes when I saw it) it does make the wildly erratic tone shifts harder to buy.  I just wish it were 90 taught minutes. It would still offend, but we might be more stunned by the ways the play manipulates us. I felt the machinery creaking, which is too bad.  The ideas are too complex, and we shouldn't be thinking about our watches. 

Updated On: 11/30/19 at 09:54 AM

[viagalactica6]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 11:53am

Thanks so much for posting the contents of the petition. As a queer black man myself I found it most interesting. It reminds me of the dual prejudices and other challenges that I face in my daily life.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 12:43pm

Seeing the evening performance of this on Saturday, January 4th. Looking forward to a challenging (and hopefully rewarding) night of theater. I’m pairing it with Oklahoma! (second trip) for my matinee. I may be wrong, but I think they’ll compliment each other in their boldness, inventiveness, and willingness to ask difficult questions and comment on unpleasant aspects of American culture.

[Rosette3]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 2:21pm

IAMREADING said: "Videos emerging on Twitter of what looks like a talkback? q&a after the show? of a white woman screaming that the play is racist against white people

Just saw the amazing @SlavePlayBway by @jeremyoharris after which a white audience member jumped up and accused him of being “racist against white people.” The confrontation proceeded from there. Clips in this thread. #slaveplay

https://twitter.com/adambkushner/status/1200624536661696513

"

"Jeremy O. Harris: I never once said you as a single white woman were not a marginalized person but if you heard that in my play I don't know what to tell you. Perhaps you should read the play or see it again."

Always hustling hahaha. In all seriousness props for them doing talk backs. 

 

[Rosette3]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 2:50pm

Longer video with end the rant
https://twitter.com/alibreland/status/1200811924763619328?s=19

Ok this is more wild than I thought lol the woman is saying she doesn't see herself in those characters and after she asked Harris "whats the solution?" shares how spent her "whole fcking life trying to make a solution". For those who have seen the play she is literally pulling a Alana as the token white woman character that takes up space talking over people etc at the same time she's patting herself on the back thinking she's helping.

You'd think she was a plant by Jeremy O. Harris... but in this day and age as they say "you can't make this sh*t up."

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 6:11pm

Jesus Christ. She is clearly dealing with some personal issues in her own life. Who comes to the theater full of rage? SIMMA DOWN GIRL.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 6:30pm

dramamama611 said: "So is this going to turn into The Scotsboro Boys? Ruined by people that only have a knee jerk reaction to what a small minority might feel? I can't fault the woman that started it, as I believe she's simply relying on her feelings and if she feels offended, the material is offensive.(her truth)

I can't speak to the piece, not having seen it. However, how widespread can her opinion be if there hasn't been other discussion of this before now? Or have I missed that?"

I was going to say the same thing! Saw the Scottsboro Boys and it was a brilliant show. There was a group of protesters outside the theatre, none had seen the show. I ran into John Cullum at the Irish Rep shortly after the showw closed. He told me that the protesters were invited to see the show during one of it's last performances. He said they were visibly shaken at the end of the show. Obviously the terms Mistral Show and Black Face causes a knee jerk reaction. Little did the protesters know it was black actors applying burnt cork to their faces at the end to appear blacker, like many back actors had to do during specific period in time.

 I have not see this show, but I do believe it is suffering the same fate.

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 6:39pm

Miles2Go2 said: "Seeing the evening performance of this on Saturday, January 4th. Looking forward to a challenging (and hopefully rewarding) night of theater. I’m pairing it with Oklahoma! (second trip) for my matinee. I may be wrong, but I think they’ll compliment each other in their boldness, inventiveness, and willingness to ask difficult questions and comment on unpleasant aspects of American culture. "

That is a great combo to see in one day.  I thought both were incredibly well-done.