Three Pieces

by Ntozake Shange

Three plays include a magical minstrel show, the personal relationship between a photographer and a dancer, and the dreams and memories of a young Black woman

142 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Ntozake Shange (pronounced En-toe-ZAHK-kay SHONG-gay) was an African-American playwright, performance artist, and writer who is best known for her Obie Award winning play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.

Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.

Reviews

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

These three works are classified as choreopoems. Having now read them, I would like to see performances of them as Shange's works are/were a "new art form that doesn't contain specific plot elements or characters, but instead focuses on creating an emotional response from the audience. [snip] She emphasizes the importance of movement and nonverbal communication throughout the choreopoem so that it is able to function as a theatrical piece rather than being limited to poetry or dance." (Description from wikipedia.)

Shange hits some hard truths in her works.

alternative number 2: all the men are sent to new jersey
& the women's army air corps guards all tunnels & bridges/
airport, bus & train stations to make sure that no men invade
the state during rape prevention month. since there are
actually 50 states in the union/ i imagine we cd pair off
& alternate during the year/ so at any time maybe some 25
states wd be free of rape for a month.

and

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT:
ZIMBABWE CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT:
THOUSANDS OF WRITERS FLOCK TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON FREE SPEECH IN ARGENTINA
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT:
WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS DENIED ENTRY TO THE UNITED STATES
AS WAR CRIMINALS
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT:
NOT ONE AFRO-AMERICAN CHILD WHO CANT READ & WRITE/
CELEBRATIONS OF CAMPAIGN AGAINST NATIONAL ILLITERACY
EPIDEMIC HELD IN BED-STUY
that's how i see it, today, now that's the news that's
fit to print.
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT/
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT

[Mathilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

shall we go to jonestown or the disco

[mengwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

boogie woogie landscapes? excellent.

[Rowena · Rating 4 out of 5]

for spell #7. 3.5. it was an interesting read although i'm not sure if it really accomplished what shange wanted it to. none of her characters seemed to be transcending any stereotypes and the syntax only seemed to reinforce them to an extent. also don't agree with shange's militant attitude, but that's another story

[Oona · Rating 4 out of 5]

so far, so good; i give it a four star. . . .