The Brothers Size is on stage at the Manbites Dog Theater
through September 29. The play, written
by Tarell Alvin McCraney, is a story of two black brothers, Ogun and Oshoosi
Size. It is set in the heart of
Louisiana’s bayou, where Ogun owns a car repair business. Oshoosi, the younger
brother, comes home from prison to live with Ogun. He struggles to find work despite the
inspiration of his brother.
It’s a story known too well by black men. Finding employment after serving prison time
is hard to endure. Making matters worse
is the arrival of Elegba, who Oshoosi met in prison. Elegba tempts Oshoosi with promises of introductions
to women. Conflict is stirred between
the brothers due to Ogun’s mistrust of Elegba.
Ogun, Oshoosi and Elegba are all named after gods of Yoruba, an African
religion. Ogun is the god of tools and metal, Oshoosi is the god of the hunt
and undertaker of quest and Elegba is the Yoruba trickster.
The Brothers Size is the second part of McCraney’s The Brother/Sister Plays trilogy. The first play, In the Red and Brown Wate,r was a huge hit from coast to coast.
Like Brother Size, In the Red and Brown Water draws on folk
tales from Yoruba mythology.
“This piece is really special to me because it's
not often that you see such a powerful piece by a contemporary African American
male playwright, featuring an all African American male cast,” says Chaunesti
Webb. “And these guys are really amazing performers.”
Webb’s play, I Love My Hair When it’s Good: & Then
Again When it Looks Defiant and Impressive, set a record for the greatest
attendance numbers ever at the Manbites Dog Theater. “Manbites Dog Theater recognizes the emerging audience of
African-American patrons who are interested in stories that are relevant, edgy
and thought-provoking,” Webb says. “The work that Manbites Dog Theater does
is an alternative to the Durham Performing Arts Center, reaching another
segment of the Durham arts community, delivering a unique experience to
downtown Durham.”
Durham is
fortunate to have Webb and Howard Craft living and working in Durham. Crafts recent play Nina Simone: What More Can I Say is another masterpiece among the
rest of his works. Those of us who love
plays wait patiently for Webb and Craft to create something new.
In addition,
Wendell Tabb, director of Theatre at Hillside High School, has been directing
plays for 25 years. Tabb has developed a
theater department recognized as one of the best high school programs in the
nation. Throw in the work at the North
Carolina Central University Drama Department, and Durham has become a hot spot
for black theater.
The coming of The Brothers Size introduces Durham to
great work created by black play writers from places outside of Durham. Hopefully more will come.
I’m excited
there’s a play about black men. I was
beginning to feel like an invisible man.
Durham, open
your arms to the real world of diversity.
This piece is really special to me because it's not often that you see such a powerful piece by a contemporary African American male playwright.
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