A review by sherbertwells
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage

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)

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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.