Smart People

by Lydia R. Diamond

It is the eve of Obama's first election. Four of Harvard University's brightest; a surgeon, an actress, a psychologist, and a neuro-psychiatrist, are all interested in different aspects of the brain, particularly how it responds to race. But like all smart people, they are also searching for love, success, and identity in their own lives. Lydia Diamond brings these characters together in this sharp, witty play about social and sexual politics.

Genres: Plays, School, Drama, Theatre

104 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2016

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, rounded down.

THIS is the play that The White Card: A Play wanted to be. But instead of Rankine's talking bullet points, Diamond fashions four very distinct, complex, funny, and yes, smart characters. My only minor quibble is that the coincidences of how each knows the other three are a mite contrived, and the beginning of the second act gets bogged down a bit in pedanticism. Otherwise, a quite sobering, thoughtful play. Wish I had seen the NY production that starred Tessa Thompson, Joshua Jackson and Mahershala Ali.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/12/th...

[corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75 stars*

Lydia R. Diamond's Smart People explores how our preconceived ideas of race and gender get in the way of true connections forming between people. From a White neuroscientist who goes mad trying to prove his bold hypothesis about race in America to a young Black couple whose different backgrounds prevent them from seeing each other clearly, the characters are oftentimes implicit in their own ignorance and inability to see what or who is presented to them. I would love to see this performed live one day; if the reading experience was insightful, interesting, and intense, I can only imagine how entertaining this short yet sharp play would be when performed on stage.

[Bradley Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Diamond’s play is an exploration about one’s own understanding of the societal and cultural complexities of race, and how it manages to divide people and prevent us from establishing genuine connections. The play concerns four principle characters who all shared Harvard as a connection: a young African American actress who pays the bills cleaning houses; a middle-aged African American surgical intern struggling to advance in his medical career; an Asian American psychology professor who studies the identities of Asian American women; and a white professor of neuroscience researching the radical concept that racism can be innate. Set against the backdrop of Barack Obama running for his first term as president in 2008, each character realizes that their understanding and interpretations of race issues are not as clear and informed as they had previously believed. Published by Northwestern University Press, Diamond’s play is provocative, daring, and quite relatable though the messaging can be a bit heavy-handed at times. When dealing with complex issues such as race, especially working with the theme that some people might be born racist, it can be difficult to approach the subject in a way that is clear and accessible.

[Sheldon Chau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid play that explores the challenges and grievances of smart people in relation to their identity, race, and social stance. The fragmented nature of the storytelling drew me in - really liked how we were given snippets of each character (a Black surgeon, Black actress, White neuropsychiatrist, Japanese-Chinese-American psychologist) and then rewarded with an uncomfortable but engaging scene at the end with the four of them in the same room.

Quick lessons I took away from this play: race is complicated, speaking about racism makes us feel uncomfortable, and we have much to learn as a society as a whole in order to realistically make some progress. Life is tough, and it is getting better slowly, but it’s absolutely ridiculous to even think that we’re living in a post-racial society.

[Tesla · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Drastic over simplification: there are three POC characters and one academic, entitled white man. The white man thinks he’s woke, but gets upset and racist when his white privilege doesn’t work, effectively ruining his relationships. On a play meant to explores race and gender, I’m not sure it was intentional how the white man is the driver of the story and mostly about him. I appreciated how the characters were fleshed out and the willingness to let the audience to be uncomfortable, but I can’t say I gained any insight from the play.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really provocative play. It doesn't ever go for cheap or easy answers, and isn't afraid to go to dangerous places in race and sex. It's a send up of liberal pieties in several places, but it is at the heart a play that tries to navigate a way to a better racial future. However, the end is by no means a pollyanna one, and the viewer/reader is left to wonder what next.

Marvelous four person play with each role having superb moments.

[Azure · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great premise but not as well written as I'd hoped.

[Meekee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise that could get really campy but pulled off well. Some characters are more interesting than others, not great especially with such a small cast. Striking ending moral.

[Philip Knoerzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very smart play; hopefully we can find a cast for it….I’m hoping Ms. Diamond writes a sequel of sorts called “Regular People” which addresses the issue in a more down-to-Earth fashion.

[Nikki Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

have u ever finished a book and immediately said "jesus fucking christ"

yup.

pls read.

[Diana Frankhauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will not be everyone's cup of tea, but it certainly was mine. Remarkably well thought-out, probing, will probably be thinking about this fiercely, critical play for a while....

[verónica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kamala Campaign Zoom Call ass play

[Tanis Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited almost a month to review, not sure I had anything to say but, “Yes”. I do.
Lydia Diamond wrote a powerful play about self-perception, cultural and relational perceptions. She brought more than white and brown to the race table talk and powerfully. She uses ourselves against us as she sheds light on the differences in our perceptions and those of the people surrounding us. It is thought provoking, incriminating and needs to be done.