Slave Play

“Slave Play” by Jeremy O. Harris is different. The entire experience of going to the Noel Coward Theatre was different. Patrons were given stickers to cover the lenses of the cameras on their phones before entering the theatre. Instead of a curtain across the stage, there were mirrored panels with block lettered words across the top. Six of the main characters (three couples consisting of one mixed race partner. participated in plays within the play. The second partner of two of the couples included a White partner and one with a Black partner. The fourth couple would not appear until later. The playlets seemed to be about relationships between an enslaved person and a person in control of them. These playlets ran the gamut from light comedy to bitter sexual and physically abusive behaviors. In one of the playlets, the abusing partner was the White woman and in another the male White Overseer mistreating a Black male slave. The third was a White Master with confused feelings about his Mixed-Race female ‘slave’. Each playlet was shocking. When the playlets ended, the fourth couple, two psychologists, (a Mixed Race woman and a White Latina) were introduced. The remainder of the play showed the real life issues of all four couples. To say more might give away too much.

The play explored racial and cultural identity in ways that most of us probably haven’t considered or experienced. Most importantly, it left the audience more sensitive to communication within any relationship and the need for honesty and openness and fully ‘hearing’ the person with whom you are communicating.

A Fine Day for Football

It was back to Craven Cottage, on a nearly perfect day that was sunny and not too warm. The Fulham All Whites faced London rivals West Ham Hammers. Needless to say, the walk, through Bishop’s Park, to Craven Cottage was lovely with late blooming roses and plenty of people enjoying the park. I sat in the new Riverside Stand for the first time. The seats are comfortable there is more leg room, and the views of the Johnny Haynes stand and Craven Cottage, itself, were great. One of the highlights, in addition to an exciting game, was a mom and son I met. The young fellow, no more than 8 or 9, was a member of Fulham’s youth academy, and was seeing his first Fulham match in person. He sat directly in front of me, and I enjoyed seeing his excitement.

It was a great match, with Fulham going up by one goal during the first half and doggedly held on to that lead through the entire 45 minutes of the second half. The lead was maintained for four and a half of the five minutes of extra time. Alas, the Hammers managed to tie the game at 1-1 with seconds remaining. Still, a point is a point.

A random note, the substitutes from both teams warmed up along the touch line which was right in front of my seat. I was surprised at how tall and powerful looking transfer Sander Berge is. At over 6 feet tall, he towered over some of the other players

Observations from the Observatory

I mentioned in a previous entry that “The Observatory,” a cafe and photo gallery had re-opened after it’s August holiday closure. I’ve enjoyed many cups of coffee there and I finally had an opportunity to take a look at the new exhibition of photos “Tir na nO’g” (The Other World) by Emma Rose.

This is just a small sample of the photos on display in this wonderful Bloomsbury site.