A Real Black Comedy

Production History

2000 - Script commissioned by Vera J. Katz of Howard University

2001    Staged Reading    AACPA, Producer Tiffany N. Scott

2001    Staged Reading    Urban Stages, New York City, Producer John McCormick

Synopsis

A Real Black Comedy is a play that uses absurd situations and juxtapositions sprinkled through with edgy wit and satire to tell the story of a fictitious group of black actors relegated to exist in the sitcom genre. 

            At the onset of the drama it is revealed that the characters, as well as their predecessors, have been doing the sitcom – A Real Black Comedy since… well for quite a long time. However, this present set of actors are growing tired of the constraints put on them, but the decades of fear and control have caused a kind of amnesia, as they’ve forgotten ever having been represented in another way.   We further learn that the state of mind of the characters is precarious and they are being controlled and watched closer than ever because they have become more dangerous in their thinking.  Thus the audience (community) is asked to help with the control techniques by interacting with the unfolding drama at specific cued times in the action.   The character that acts as the aide in the control efforts is the only white character, the Stage Manager, who receives all of his direction from “on high” through his ever-present headset.  He keeps the actors in control and also makes certain to protect his own job and thus his existence. 

As the characters tire of portraying the same static stereotypical situations they increase their inner and outer actions of revolt and rebellion.  However, they also begin to turn on one another as they work through the psychological trauma that has oppressed their spirits for so long.  The challenge for the group of My Good… actors in the play is for them to recognize that they have the power to determine their own future and destiny and they simply have to use that power for their own personal and collective benefit.