What I liked
I was blown away by Shanara’s ability to deliver so much insight, wit, humor, and passion without for a second sounding like she was reciting a script; every word seemed to be produced in the moment and, in the theater, you could feel each audience member’s attention fixed. I deeply appreciated Shanara’s desire to invite people of all different background to share her experiences and thoughts and, though some of what she has to say is unflattering and discomforting, she provides a potent justification for why everyone needs to hear and talk about systemic injustice.
What I didn't like
This didn’t detract from the show in any way, but I’d be excited, as Shanara keeps working on this show and others, to see some further experimentation with media (images, music, sound); what was used in this play made total sense, but it was more illustrative of what Shanara was already saying than serving as an additional element for her to interact with.
My overall impression
Shanara had the whole room captivated; her presence was was commanding; not only did she provide a cutting analysis of contemporary American racial/social/gender politics, but also offered hope for a world that is otherwise.
