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sarahkathleenbest's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mineral9's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
poeticmemory's review against another edition
1.0
i really hated this. i find it deeply offensive that the thesis seems to be that all interracial relationships have a dark undercurrent? this play is all shock value and pop culture references. these characters aren’t people, but they also aren’t even mouthpieces for ideas. i have no idea what any of them actually want or who they are. more than anything else, it’s just really poorly written and i wish we would stop pretending that it isn’t.
tcbbroadway22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sethudlamz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
eliza20barnes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very, very complicated premise. Using couples counselling as a metaphor for race in post-slavery America makes for a funny but deeply traumatic discussion around colourism. Can't quite tell where I stand on this, but I know it's definitely a conversation to be had - whether this is the way to go about it, I'm not sure... Really creative premise, but I never like consentual-non-consentual shit.
hbic's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
ebunk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
yvkhan's review against another edition
4.0
I vibe like the three couples are three very distinct stories about racism. The premise of participating in “slave play” seems a bit questionable, but sex is very much influenced by power dynamics and the perverse nature of slave play definitely grabs the attention so I’m not against it, though as someone who isn’t black, I don’t experience the strong racial traumas that might make such subject matter distasteful. I also feel that slave play forcibly reveals the underlying racism that exists in these mixed race relationships, forcing said racism to be confronted.
Jim and Kaneisha: Jim doesn’t know he’s a racist, Kaneisha does at the back of her head. I was taking some notes because iBooks allows that and he mistakes a cantaloupe for a watermelon once but doesn’t seem to recognise that he’s being racist? I think Kaneisha was attracted to him because she felt that a mixed race couple where the white man was so incredibly stereotypically white would be really subversive, but she eventually realised that their relationship remained rather problematic and racist? Something about Jim policing her sexuality by not wishing to participate in Slave Play whilst pretending that he isn’t racist by acting all high and mighty. On a more personal note, I liked Kaneisha’s intelligence.
Dustin and Gary: Essentially, Dustin feels white guilt and thinks that having a black boyfriend shows that he isn’t racist and also makes him a victim of white supremacy, which allows him to get over the guilt he experiences as someone that benefits from racism. This is very apparent from the role he chooses to play in the script.
Alana and Philip: Probably something about Philip experiencing a certain level of self hate as a black man whilst convincing himself that he doesn’t feel that way as he’s mixed race and hence isn’t “that black”. Somehow his blackness is also erotic to him? I don’t quite understand that part.
I will say that initially it was difficult to truly get into the play as i was just reading the script, but it definitely got better towards the end and it was an effortless and gripping read. It’s quite powerful and the style of the script feels almost poetic. All in all, Slave Play finds a beautiful balance between entertaining and thought provoking, a difficult nuance that most writers must find enviable.
Jim and Kaneisha: Jim doesn’t know he’s a racist, Kaneisha does at the back of her head. I was taking some notes because iBooks allows that and he mistakes a cantaloupe for a watermelon once but doesn’t seem to recognise that he’s being racist? I think Kaneisha was attracted to him because she felt that a mixed race couple where the white man was so incredibly stereotypically white would be really subversive, but she eventually realised that their relationship remained rather problematic and racist? Something about Jim policing her sexuality by not wishing to participate in Slave Play whilst pretending that he isn’t racist by acting all high and mighty. On a more personal note, I liked Kaneisha’s intelligence.
Dustin and Gary: Essentially, Dustin feels white guilt and thinks that having a black boyfriend shows that he isn’t racist and also makes him a victim of white supremacy, which allows him to get over the guilt he experiences as someone that benefits from racism. This is very apparent from the role he chooses to play in the script.
Alana and Philip: Probably something about Philip experiencing a certain level of self hate as a black man whilst convincing himself that he doesn’t feel that way as he’s mixed race and hence isn’t “that black”. Somehow his blackness is also erotic to him? I don’t quite understand that part.
I will say that initially it was difficult to truly get into the play as i was just reading the script, but it definitely got better towards the end and it was an effortless and gripping read. It’s quite powerful and the style of the script feels almost poetic. All in all, Slave Play finds a beautiful balance between entertaining and thought provoking, a difficult nuance that most writers must find enviable.