"Br'er Cotton" While watching this I was pretty sure that I was listening to the voice of a new master: Tearrance Chisholm. It's a play about a young black man grappling with the violence and hate in "his" society. Though this is, sadly, common fare right now, the writing and production are anything but. Through a sure voice and stunning visuals we see the human response to a static oppressive environment that cannot be escaped - not through time, not through work, not through avoidance, not through prayer. Lunches, school, play, work - everything is disrupted. That disruption is much more felt by the young who are still being told how life is supposed to be.
The writing (with one or two questionable choices that I can't mention without spoiling) is superb - precise without being cold or sharp; layered without relying on symbolism. It touches on references to literature and folk tale. When the beauty and the talent is in the text, the other artists' contributions rise to that level. It's no coincidence that good films and books have good key art and covers. Same here. The production design is inspired and the singing is just right, just enough. Even the program art is evocative and artful. The acting is strong. The ending is challenging. It's one of those where you can see it from two perspectives, but you will probably have an opinion.
See it. Google Chisholm. Let's talk!
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