Play — A Raisin in the Sun

Performed at the Lyric Hammersmith, this play was simply amazing and totally unexpected. Unexpected because Angela told me it was a happy gospel-like musical — and it isn’t, also because it coming from 1959 completely destroyed my understanding of the black American condition at the time. It talked about things in a familiar way that I didn’t think were formalized until the late 60’s or 70’s.

What are some of these things?

• intergenerational issues moving from slavery, share-cropping to relative freedom and civil rights
• complexity of developing a unique culture with known black American values and the issue of introducing traditional African heritage
• role of women within the black culture
• issues with roles of men inside a dominate white culture
• and much more…

I was very dark, complex and powerful. Beautifully acted. Hardly dated over the past 46 years… Only the Pyrrhic victory at the end was a little to subtle for me… I am sure Hollywood would have made it far more dramatic if they made it today.

I would recommend that everyone go and see this play.