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Review: SLAVE PLAY at Short North Stage

Review: SLAVE PLAY at Short North Stage

Play is a 90-minute leap outside of one’s comfort zone

In the first act of SLAVE PLAY, therapist Tea (played by the always entertaining Lisa Glover) tells the three couples participating in the Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy, "This is going to require you to step outside your comfort zone." The same warning label should be posted on the Short North Stage's marquee and ticket stubs for this three-act, 90-minute play.

SLAVE PLAY, which was nominated for 12 Tony Awards (a record for a non-musical play) in 2020, seems to be designed by author Jeremy O. Harris for the purpose of making theatergoers uncomfortable. The play is making its Columbus debut Jan. 26-Feb. 19 at the Garden Theatre (1187 North High Street in downtown Columbus).

Tea and her partner Patricia (Gabriela Gomez), an interracial gay couple, hope to snap three mixed race couples out of their anhedonia (loss of interest/motivation) caused by what they term as R.I.D. (Racialized Inhibiting Disorder). The two theorize the roots of R.I.D., which inhibits blacks from enjoying sexual relations with their Caucasian partners, stems from the trauma white slave owners inflicted on their imprisoned workers. The three couples are asked to act out master-slave relationships to see how history affects their identities and sexual relationships.

Director Nakeisha Daniel develops nuanced performances of each of the couples: Jim (Samuel Patridge) and Kaniesha (Candyce Adkins); Gary (R. Jahan) and Dustin (Matthew Sierra); and Alana (Kayla Ryan Walsh) and Phillip (Taylor Moss).

Glover and Gomez spout off psychological theory and anachronisms as if they are spitting up the self-help book section of a Barnes & Noble. Glover, a SNS veteran who is known for her physical comedic roles like TOXIC AVENGER, and NOISES OFF, plays off Gomez as a couple who is starting to show the strain of working together. With an eye roll here and an interruption there, the two are often the comic relief in a very intense drama.

Adkins and Partridge are the first and last couple on the stage and their volatile relationship seems to be the centerpiece of the show. Partridge navigates Jim's strained English politeness that is paired against Adkins' tempestuous Kaniesha

Everyone knows a couple like Moss' Alana and Walsh's Phillip. Alana is an over-the-top, expressive, and note-taking matriarch whereas Phillip's quiet masks a rage that burns underneath until it boils over. One of the show's best comedic bits was when the two therapists interpret what Alana and Phillip were saying to each other. After Glover went through a laundry list of Alana's expressed emotions, fears, desires, questions, and feelings, Gomez drolly deadpans, "What I hear you saying Phillip, is ... 'it was okay.'"

Finally, there's Gary and Dustin, the only couple who at first seem to make a leap forward at the therapy session, only to have that breakthrough end in a breakup. While their role-playing experience is the hardest to relate to, the anger and pent-up hostility provides one of the emotional arcs of the show.

What the eight-person cast accomplishes in 90 minutes is it takes two of the most difficult topics to discuss - sex and race - and brings them to the forefront where they are unavoidable. The role playing and some of the dialogue is hard to see and even harder to get out of your mind. Reactions to the play have been so intense that SNS has mental health officials in the lobby to help some of the audience members process what they are seeing.

People always ask critics two questions: "did you like it?" and "is it worth seeing?" When it comes time to discuss SLAVE PLAY, these two questions are going to be tough to answer. Did I like it? From a theatrical rubric, it checks off the boxes of fantastic acting and wonderful direction, and powerful message. However, is it enjoyable? At times yes ... and sometimes it felt like a punch to the stomach.

However, the second question -- is it worth going to? - the answer is unequivocally YES. Consider this: Was SCHINDLER'S LIST enjoyable? Not necessarily ... but it is important to see. Perhaps SLAVE PLAY falls into that same vein.



Photos: First look at Aethereal Jest Arts Councils Community Theatre Triple Feature - Volu Photo
This production functions as a mini-theatre festival and is comprised of three one-act plays with two fifteen-minute intermissions. Co-directed by Brian A. Palmer and Bethany Schoeff, Performances run March 24 - April 2, 2023 at the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215. For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.aetherealjest.com/community-theatre-triple-feature---volume-one.html

Photos: First look at Ohio University Lancaster Theatre Departments YOURE A GOOD MAN CHARL Photo
Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts gang explore life's great questions as they play baseball, struggle with homework, sing songs, swoon over their crushes, and celebrate the joy of friendship. Based on The Comic Strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, Book, Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner, Additional Dialogue by Michael Mayer, Additional Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Performances are Mar. 23- 26, 2023 at the Wagner Theatre | Brasee Hall, Ohio University Lancaster, 1570 Granville Pike Lancaster, OH 43130.   For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.ohio.edu/lancaster/current-students/theatre/upcoming-shows

CAPA Presents Free Celebration Of Day Of The Children Photo
CAPA will present a FREE celebration of Day of the Children/El Día de los Niños—with music, dance, crafts, a theatre show, food truck and more—on Sunday, April 30 from 1-4 pm at the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long Street.

Photos: First look at CYCLODRAMAs TRIASSIC PARQ THE MUSICAL Photo
Religion, identity, sex… and raptors! Triassic Parq is a raucous retelling of that famous dinosaur-themed film, this time seen from the dino’s point of view. Chaos is unleashed on their not-so-prehistoric world when one dinosaur in a clan of females spontaneously turns male! This show does contain Adult content! Consider it Rated R! Book, Music and Lyrics by Marshall Pailet. Book and Lyrics by Bryce Norbitz and Steve Wargo. Directed & Music Direction by Josh Kaplonski, Cast: Velociraptor of Innocence - Kam McCluer​, Velociraptor of Faith - Sonny Panzica, T-Rex 2 - Jennifer Zwaap, T-Rex 1 - Emily Church​, Velociraptor of Science - Carolyn Cutri, Mime-a-saurus - Taylor Ervin Performances are March 24, 25, 31, April 1, 7, 8, 7:30pm at Club Diversity, 863 South High St. Columbus OH. For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.cyclodrama.com


From This Author - Paul Batterson


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What did our critic think of SLAVE PLAY at Short North Stage? People always ask critics two questions: “did you like it?” and “is it worth seeing?” When it comes time to discuss SLAVE PLAY, these two questions are going to be tough to answer. Did I like it? From a theatrical rubric, it checks off the boxes of fantastic acting and wonderful direction, and powerful message. However, is it enjoyable? At times yes … and sometimes it felt like a punch to the stomach.