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constancetheeacademic's review
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Despite being funny and fast paced, Nottage does a great job showing the plight of early Black actresses in Hollywood and their struggles to earn a living, resist being typecast, and bring integrity to demeaning roles. There’s also a great parody of academics!
haholmes's review
4.0
An interesting play about the complexities of passing, the success of black actresses, and academic perception of the film industry. It is definitely worth a read.
talypollywaly's review
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.25
I wish more people were aware of this work. It's a wonderful piece of historical fiction. If you're a fan of the film The Watermelon Woman (historical fiction and themes of searching for "the truth") this work is in the same vein.
sherbertwells's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
An African-American maid to a 1930s Hollywood starlet struggles to win a role in a Southern epic, but her legacy sparks controversy among modern-day academics. The story is fun and screwy, with sharp commentary and plenty of room for performers’ interpretation—just as Stark would have wanted?
“LEROY: It tickles me how half the Negroes in this town are running around like chickens without heads trying to get five minutes of shucking and jiving time, all so they can say they’re in the pictures. It’s just lights and shadows, what’s the big deal?” (37)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Racism, and Slavery
Minor: Death, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, and Violence
The portrayal of slavery is an important part of the play: the white, European director wants to realize his own ideas of African-American suffering, while the white studio head wants the movie to be romantic and escapist, with happy slaves.natalielorelei's review
5.0
Lynn Nottage is utterly brilliant, and I should have been reading her work long before now. I absolutely devoured this play, and I can't think of enough superlatives to describe it.
mdemanatee's review
Saw the Goodman production of this play, and now have finally read it. Always a pleasure to read a new Nottage play, and this one feels much different than her other works. It's nice to know she's still playing with form and experimenting. I can't wait to see what work is still yet to come.
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