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	<title>Comments on: Mad Breed</title>
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	<link>http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/08/mad-breed/</link>
	<description>DC's Liveliest Theatre Website</description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:49:21 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Al Reichelt</title>
		<link>http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/08/mad-breed/#comment-3588</link>
		<dc:creator>Al Reichelt</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 May 2008 02:10:34 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>This is an exceptional play, deserving of a much larger audience.  The interplay of so many layered issues in the context of the Booth siblings' coming-of-age teen years was a stroke of genius. Sibling rivalry, love triangle, clashing Abolitionist/Confederate values within a family, black-white marriage, minstrel stereotyping, (Personal note: my father played in minstrel shows) women as actors (A la "Shakespeare in Love"), blacks as actors accepted only in Europe - all played through a Shakespearean lens!! -  these moments foreshadowing the coming disaster.

One might think that in dealing with these themes it might be a "heavy" show, but it is not. It is however, very poignant (in the piecing and penetrative sense).  As we watch the childish/profound interplay between these children/adults we learn the effect of their preconceptions and biases on our history.  It should be a wake up call for each generation to be ruthless in the examination of its own preconceptions and biases. We see that the lack of critical self-examination today has allowed our nation to play such disastrous role (war/environment) on the world stage. Future generations will no doubt write plays about it. 

A note on the actor's craft: I was specifically struck by the ability of this troupe to express emotional nuance with their facial expressions. Of particular note is Anastasia Wilson in the role of Adah Francois.  Her character is perhaps the most challenging, having to be a black girl pretending to be a white boy playing in black face in a minstrel show.  The nuances of her expressions were so natural and subtle in conveying the feelings, moods, and emotions of her character. 

A not-to-be-missed play.  Only one weekend left.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is an exceptional play, deserving of a much larger audience.  The interplay of so many layered issues in the context of the Booth siblings&#8217; coming-of-age teen years was a stroke of genius. Sibling rivalry, love triangle, clashing Abolitionist/Confederate values within a family, black-white marriage, minstrel stereotyping, (Personal note: my father played in minstrel shows) women as actors (A la &#8220;Shakespeare in Love&#8221;), blacks as actors accepted only in Europe - all played through a Shakespearean lens!! -  these moments foreshadowing the coming disaster.</p>
<p>One might think that in dealing with these themes it might be a &#8220;heavy&#8221; show, but it is not. It is however, very poignant (in the piecing and penetrative sense).  As we watch the childish/profound interplay between these children/adults we learn the effect of their preconceptions and biases on our history.  It should be a wake up call for each generation to be ruthless in the examination of its own preconceptions and biases. We see that the lack of critical self-examination today has allowed our nation to play such disastrous role (war/environment) on the world stage. Future generations will no doubt write plays about it. </p>
<p>A note on the actor&#8217;s craft: I was specifically struck by the ability of this troupe to express emotional nuance with their facial expressions. Of particular note is Anastasia Wilson in the role of Adah Francois.  Her character is perhaps the most challenging, having to be a black girl pretending to be a white boy playing in black face in a minstrel show.  The nuances of her expressions were so natural and subtle in conveying the feelings, moods, and emotions of her character. </p>
<p>A not-to-be-missed play.  Only one weekend left.</p>
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