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ame1ia_fox's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.5
pollydye's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
frankiemadsen's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW. How on earth a play can capture the diversity of the cultures throughout Africa with such little time is beyond me. This play flits effortlessly between hilarious dialogue to heart-wrenching tales of loss, emasculation and shows the lasting effect of the apartheid. Both politically relevant and funny, Ellams’ play-wright skills are nothing short of genius.
annabranson's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
marshamudpuddle's review against another edition
3.5
It's not quite the same reading a play as seeing it performed, but I enjoyed this nonetheless. It is a series of overlapping conversations taking place in barbershops around the world. The same themes, ideas, and even jokes reappear across continents; there are also a few links between characters. Together, the conversations interweave to form a meditation on Black identity. A barbershop is a great setting for a drama, a bit like a dinner table in that it allows for lots of different things to play out: meandering conversations, different power dynamics and social etiquettes, conflicts and resolutions. It is also a particularly important space for Black people, as the notes explicate well (see also the Pixar film Soul, where there is a great scene in a barbershop that would fit right in here!)
marielouiseolsenn's review
4.0
4/5 stars. Read it for uni. I really enjoyed this book/manuscript. The storylines were beautifully interwoven and you got a glimpse into the lives of different African men as well as their differences
ren_dragon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0