What I liked
^What I didn't like
Nothing, it was absolutely amazing!My overall impression
Black When I Was A Boy was hands down one of the best performances that I have ever seen. I had never seen a one-man show before, so I had no clue what to expect. I wondered if it would get a little boring watching only one person on stage for the entirety of the performance. However, what I soon realized was that Cooper Bates could somehow turn himself into different characters within seconds. He used no props to change his appearance, however his voices, movements and acting completely transformed him into the people from his childhood.
Black When I Was A Boy was a rollercoaster of emotions. Cooper Bates’s integration of hilarious moments and devastating stories left me crying and laughing at the same time. There were so many powerful moments in his show. My absolute favorite scene was when he talks about a young black girl from his elementary school that was bullied for the color of her skin. He ends this scene in a very poetic way that sent chills all over my body.
Overall, I am so incredibly impressed with Black When I Was A Boy. It was so raw and emotional, yet hysterical at the same time. Cooper Bates had so many horrible racist experiences as a young boy, and I think it is so powerful that he is channeling that pain and frustration into art. Everyone should see this amazing show, you won’t be disappointed!!!!!
