Anna Deavere Smith has interviewed a couple thousand people and then turns some of them into monologues. This is a proper example of using theatre to create awareness. No propaganda here. Just insight into the everyday world of the quirkiness and despair the human soul finds itself. Well performed.
Four monologues fill this 23 minute recording. The second monologue is hard to swallow but the best of the four. Sit in it. Notice the thought process of Paulette Jenkins, the convict, and how quickly things go dark--a victim who becomes a perpetrator.
I like the use of 'human touch' in the first monologue and turning perceptions of racism around in the third monologue. An honest cowboy in the last....
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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2 comments:
Good stuff. I think the enduring power of the monologue is that it does let us see through someone else's eyes. I think there's far too little of that going on most of the time. What a thought provoking set of stories she gives, as well. There's a lot to chew on.
Thanks, dramaturge, for the input! It does give new meaning to "telling the truth in love." We have real compassion for each of those people and we *hear* them and we nod or grieve with them....
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