Review: The Black Clown

[jducoeur]

This month, the ART is showing the world premiere of the new show, The Black Clown, adapted from the Langston Hughes poem. tl;dr: it's great. See it.

The obvious question here is, "what does 'adapted' mean?". No, it's not a play inspired by the poem, or anything like that. Instead, it's -- well, I would have said that it's an oratorio, but Kate assures me that it is more correctly a song-cycle: 17 songs and recitations, drawing directly from the poem (mostly, with one prominent exception), pretty much in order. So each song's lyrics are a stanza, or even just a line or two, from the poem, given dramatic life in music and dance.

This isn't a simple recitation -- song by song, the tone and musical style change and change, oppression to joy to despair to rage to determination. The show is visually stunning, using its simple sets to great effect. The tone is never simple or one-note: even in the moments of joy, there are chilling visual details. This is an impressionistic journey through the history of the black experience in America, up through Hughes' time, and it is deeply affecting.

It is strictly an ensemble show -- the only named character is The Black Clown, played by the show's co-creator Davone Tines, and his intense bass anchors the fine vocal cast.

Note that this show is hard-edged. It's worth reading the poem, to have an idea what you're getting into -- all of that makes its way into the show. This is a story of slavery and racism, and has no interest in sugar-coating any of that.

Let's put it this way. Everything at the ART gets applause, but this one's standing ovation lasted several minutes. It's not a play, it's not a musical, it's really not easy to define. But it's brilliant, and a fine tribute to the poem. It's running for a few more weeks; get a ticket if you can.

Comments

[mermaidlady]

We saw it last night. One of the most striking pieces of theatre I'v ever seen. Excellent in every aspect.