Scan barcode
emilyroseh's review against another edition
4.25
An interesting read. I didn't realize till halfway through act one that this play tied into a Raisin in the Sun. It was a bit wordy at points, and the point was lost occasionally, but the story has a good message to think about.
floralfox's review against another edition
3.0
The first act's rising tension and ultimate explosion had excellent payoff, both in humor and gut-punches when it all comes together and realize just what everyone's been talking around. The slip of Russ and Bev back into the trite small talk that permeated the slow exposition took on new meaning and worked really well. If the play had been a one-act, I'd have given it four stars, but the second act dragged it back down to a three. Act II has the same slow exposition as Act I and the same rising tension (you could literally feel itchy with the inane conversations the characters are all having while talking over each other, avoiding the actual topic at hand) but the payoff just isn't there and it's disappointing. What I think worked better in Act I was the weaving in and out of various characters as they were introduced, left, and re-entered. Those interruptions flowed more naturally and allowed some breathing room for the introduction of the characters. In Act II, however, all the characters are introduced at once, and I found myself wondering too long what exactly they were doing together, how they were connected, etc. In the end, I still feel like some of those questions are unanswered. I don't really get how Tom was connected to anyone, and it wasn't made clear early enough that Kathy was Lindsey and Steve's lawyer. In fact, I spent a good chunk of time assuming that the house was Tom's, or that all the characters had somehow pooled together money to flip it. The meaningless conversation about the capital of Morroco lasted longer and felt much more meaningless than the way the etymology of Neopolitan was flipped in Act I. And I just—didn't get why these random neighbors were sitting in someone's empty living room going over (dis)approving of the new building plans? Like, why did Steve and Lindsey invite these neighbors over...? I don't know. It just didn't work for me.
I also found enjoyment reading it, but don't think it's Nobel Prize-winning worthy to me? And I'm still parsing out how I feel about it being in conversation with Raisin. On one hand, I like the contextualization of the price of the house and the widened scope of the issues of the 50s (such as soldiers returning with PTSD), but otherwise... it's connection to that masterpiece feels like a gimmick that misses the mark.
As a last note, I also felt like Norris's characterization of Karl Lindner was off. He's such a meek, despicable character in Raisin but has much more of a command of his intentions and voice in this, and it just felt too jarring. It's not necessarily unbelievable that he'd act one way with the Youngers and another around people he felt comfortable around; it just lacked that sort of transition for me to truly feel like he was the same person.
I also found enjoyment reading it, but don't think it's Nobel Prize-winning worthy to me? And I'm still parsing out how I feel about it being in conversation with Raisin. On one hand, I like the contextualization of the price of the house and the widened scope of the issues of the 50s (such as soldiers returning with PTSD), but otherwise... it's connection to that masterpiece feels like a gimmick that misses the mark.
As a last note, I also felt like Norris's characterization of Karl Lindner was off. He's such a meek, despicable character in Raisin but has much more of a command of his intentions and voice in this, and it just felt too jarring. It's not necessarily unbelievable that he'd act one way with the Youngers and another around people he felt comfortable around; it just lacked that sort of transition for me to truly feel like he was the same person.
ashkitty93's review
4.0
Updated after watching a full performance--
I still don't think "enjoyable" is the proper word for this, but it is an important show with deep themes and a poignant message (maybe several poignant messages). To watch the show go through its full arc from Act I to Act II is really incredible and I've picked up on different things both of the last two nights I've been at the theatre. Yes, the characters are neurotic assholes, but you have to dig past that level and go further. See the way Betsy, Karl's wife, is deaf and barely able to speak in Act I and then how the same actress, as Lindsey, is constantly being cut off or talked over by Steve in Act II. How they all bounce back and forth discussing national capitals and things like downhill skiing. How Kathy in Act II is the daughter of Betsy from Act I. It's all beautifully interwoven.
Bumped up to 3.5 stars.
I still think Aaron Burr is spot-on, though.
-----------------------
Original review--
Not a huge fan and I'm still wondering how this convoluted thing won the Pulitzer. Anyway, we're performing this at my community theatre and all of the actors are fantastic, I just can't stand the characters they play. They're so neurotic and constantly either mindlessly chattering or arguing over the most mundane, irrelevant topics as they dance around the topic of race and racism without ever actually SAYING (until the end, anyway) that that's what they're worried about. This does work as a sort of sequel to Raisin in the Sun (which I loved), but the message I really take away from this play is that people talk entirely too much about the most irrelevant, banal shit.
Aaron Burr's got it right. This is what we need to do.
I still don't think "enjoyable" is the proper word for this, but it is an important show with deep themes and a poignant message (maybe several poignant messages). To watch the show go through its full arc from Act I to Act II is really incredible and I've picked up on different things both of the last two nights I've been at the theatre. Yes, the characters are neurotic assholes, but you have to dig past that level and go further. See the way Betsy, Karl's wife, is deaf and barely able to speak in Act I and then how the same actress, as Lindsey, is constantly being cut off or talked over by Steve in Act II. How they all bounce back and forth discussing national capitals and things like downhill skiing. How Kathy in Act II is the daughter of Betsy from Act I. It's all beautifully interwoven.
Bumped up to 3.5 stars.
I still think Aaron Burr is spot-on, though.
-----------------------
Original review--
Not a huge fan and I'm still wondering how this convoluted thing won the Pulitzer. Anyway, we're performing this at my community theatre and all of the actors are fantastic, I just can't stand the characters they play. They're so neurotic and constantly either mindlessly chattering or arguing over the most mundane, irrelevant topics as they dance around the topic of race and racism without ever actually SAYING (until the end, anyway) that that's what they're worried about. This does work as a sort of sequel to Raisin in the Sun (which I loved), but the message I really take away from this play is that people talk entirely too much about the most irrelevant, banal shit.
Aaron Burr's got it right. This is what we need to do.
mgoscinski's review
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kerryfriesen's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
iteechesinglish's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I started off thinking I wasn't going to like this play, but it grew on me in Act 2. I thought the opening was a bit heavy handed, but the way it is executed is really clever and the topics of white flight and gentrification are relevant to today. One aspect that is difficult when just reading the play is that the same cast plays a different set of characters in Act 2 and it was difficult to keep track of who was who.
Summary for myself: Act 1 introduces us to a middle-aged couple preparing to move out of their home in the upscale neighborhood of Clybourne Park. The husband is still deeply grieving the loss of his son to suicide 2 years ago and feels betrayed by how the neighborhood failed to support his son when he returned from Korea. His neighbor Karl comes over to confront him about the fact that the house was sold to a black family. In Act 2 we see the same house and a community association meeting over plans to renovate the house in ways that don't fit the neighborhood. We learn that the neighborhood became a majority black community and the niece of the family that bought the house is trying unsuccessfully to convey the importance of this. Everyone acts ignorant and selfish and it's painful to watch but pretty insightful.
pagesofpins's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I read this over a long period of time, and I wish I had paid more attention to which actors from Act 1 play which actors in Act 2, because so much of this play is about how little has changed over the years, and so much of what the playwright does is not in the dialogue (everyone talks mostly about nothing) but in the juxtaposition between two characters one actor plays.