Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
Max Stafford-Clark
Adapted by
George C. Wolfe
Co-production with Public Theatre, New York
Dates Performed
Wednesday 17th July 1991
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Play Details
Synopsis
‘Round about long ‘go & ‘O, way down, nearby’
Set to music and divided into two acts, this play uniquely features stories within a story, brought to life by two narrating musicians. Through its episodic format of three distinct tales, the play captures snapshots of the African American experience in 20th century US. Themes of love, marriage, domestic abuse, feminism, and capitalism weave through the narratives, creating a rich tapestry of life and challenges
Cast & Creative
Cast
Ann Duquesnay
Cast
Kevin Jackson
Cast
Chic Street Man
Cast
Stanley Wayne Mathis
Cast
Reggie Mongomery
Cast
Danitra Vance
Sound
Chic Street Man (composer)
What our readers say
What is it like reading this play now?
The play remains strikingly relevant today. Its innovative use of blues music to delve into the urban and rural experiences of African Americans in the 20th century is a perspective that still feels fresh and underrepresented in modern theatre.
What films or music does it make you think of?
The music of B.B. King, Etta James, Freddie King, Bessie Smith
If you like this play you might also like…?
Hadestown, Is God Is, Girl From The North Country, Slave Play, School Girls or African Mean Girls