Slave Play's Brutal Exploration of Race and Trauma

Slave Play written by Jeremy O. Harris and directed by Robert O'Hara, fearlessly addresses the issues of race, sexuality, and historical trauma in today's America. This production bravely explores sensitive or taboo topics in relationships and race. 

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The play opens with a shocking scene set on an antebellum plantation, where three interracial couples engage in a controversial therapy exercise that pushes the boundaries of racial fetishism and power dynamics. The play then shifts to a modern-day therapy session, where the characters unravel their deep-seated pain and trauma.

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Olivia Washington is captivating as Kaneisha, a Black woman struggling to navigate her identity and desires in an interracial relationship. Kit Harington, known for his "Game of Thrones" role, surprises with a nuanced and emotionally charged performance as Jim. He grapples with his privilege and racial blindness. Fisayo Akinade and James Cusati-Moyer also deliver powerhouse performances as a same-sex couple grappling with internalized racism and the complexities of desire within their relationship.

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Harris's writing is satirical, insightful, and honest. He doesn't shy away from difficult conversations; instead, he confronts them head-on, exposing the nerves of racial tension and trauma that still exist in a contemporary society rooted in history. While the play's explicit content and challenging subject matter may be triggering for some viewers, this boldness makes "Slave Play" such a powerful and necessary piece of theater.

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I found the humor in the play a bit surprising, but it provides breaks from the intense emotions in other scenes. Some may also say the play is too provocative or exploitative, but it's these uncomfortable situations that Harris puts the audience in that make the play unique and important. It challenges us to question our own assumptions and biases, confront the painful truths that we often try to ignore, and engage in meaningful dialogue about race, sexuality, desire, and the legacy of historical trauma. The play poses the question of whether love and lust will continue to thrive in interracial relationships where the race of the couple is deemed more dominant in society than the other. 

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Slave Play is a narrative that is not only thought-provoking but also honest and challenging.  It forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and our society, challenging us to look beyond surface-level interactions and delve into the deeper history that shaped our society to how it is today. 

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