Stage Black

by Lydia R. Diamond

Full Length Comedy / Writer, a respected but obscure African-American playwright, attempts to write the perfect, producible black play. The Normals, a typical upper-middle-class African-American family, are introduced. We meet a momma on the couch, an angry young buck, a pretty little sister, her lover, a grandpa, an often-referred-to but never-met career-woman grandmother, and eventually some strategically placed audience members. Despite Writer's efforts, her inclination toward truth and honesty in art conflicts with her desire for commercial viability. Try as she may to write the quintessential black play that falls within the comfort zones of white and black audiences, her subconscious artistic and political sensibilities leap to the fore. Her characters rebel. Finally, a humorous and suspenseful coup. Writer is killed. The catatonic momma on the couch and the ethnically ambiguous European bombshell maid are killed. Angry Young Buck is killed. A new matriarch—Grandma—emerges. And with all of the clichés effectively deconstructed and out of the way, Monica (the pretty little sister) will begin a play of truth and honesty. Or can she? ( 3m., 7 to 10w)

87 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2008

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s so hard to do a meta satire well. I love Diamond’s writing but ultimately this fell flat for me. It started off so strong but by the end it felt convoluted and like it was doing the opposite of what I assume her intentions were. Or maybe making me feel this way about the play WAS her intention. Regardless, I’m realizing I don’t enjoy theater that forces me to keep my critical thinking hat on the entire time. The kind where if you walk away not liking it someone may assume you just lack some sort of intellectual capacity to understand it. Which may be true… but sometimes I just want to sit back and watch and feel. It is called a play and not a lecture or a thesis for a reason.

There are things I loved though. The character descriptions were so good I wish they had been read out loud as each character was introduced, which would have been appropriate so I wonder why they weren’t. I loved the presence of the writer on stage and having the actors take control of the show, replace them writer and eventually kill her. That was so good, a great metaphor for what really happens when a play takes on its own life outside of the writers hands.

I loved Monica, my heart broke for her and I hated Joe so much even his death didn’t console me. I wish it had been sooner and more violent. I wish it had been Monica herself.

Overall would recommend to be honest!