Tayari's Blog: The Most Important Play You'll Ever See
Posted by TayariJones on September 10, 2006 09:08 PM
Filed under
D.C. Diaries
Last night I experienced something important. In The Continuum is being performed at the Woolly Mammoth theatre here in Washington, DC until September 25.. You must see this play. I know that I recommend many things on this site, but there is no recommendation more heart-felt than the one I am offering here. I went to see the play with Maxine Clair, and after it was finished, we looked at each other and said, What can we do to get more people to see this play?
In The Continuum is the story of two women—Nia, a 19-year-old around-the-way girl, and Abagail, an Zimbabwean career woman—who both are pregnant and HIV positive. This moving dramatic presentation is structured as a series of monologues. The actors, Danai Guirira and Nikkole Salter, who also wrote the play, each take on multiple roles. I feel that any description I would give of their breath-taking performances or the seriousness of the message would do this fine work a disservice.
I don’t want to spoil the plot for anyone, but the ending was pitch perfect. Absolutely honest and awe-inspiring.
In The Continuum was performed at the Wooly Mammoth Theatre and I offer them my sincere thanks and gratitude for making an investment in this play. Full price tickets were $32, which is not so pricy for the theatre, but is still prohibitive for many ordinary folks on Washington, DC who could benefit from this hard-hitting, unflinching story about HIV/Aids and its effect on black women—both here in the USA and abroad. (I just found out that there are $10 tickets for people under 25.)
The audience at Woolly Mammoth was largely white professional folks who gave a standing ovation at the end of the play, but all I could keep thinking was that the real-life Nias and Abagails were not in attendance.
Did you know that HIV is the leading cause of death for black women in the US, between the ages of 24 and 35? Did you know that 90% of women suffering from HIV in Washington, DC are African-American women? Do you know your own HIV status?
I have an idea: I think that In The Continuum should be performed all over the country, much like The Vagina Monologues. Although the version I saw only involved two actresses, the play could be put on my ensemble casts on college campuses, in church basements, in people’s living rooms. The props were minimal—all you would need were a couple of stools, and basic costumes. We can get this message out if we want to.
In The Continuum National Tour:
Cincinnati, OH--Cincinnati Playhouse (9/30-10/29)
Los Angeles, CA--Centre Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum (11/12-12/10)
New Haven, CT-- Yale Rep (1/12-2/12)
Philadelphia, PA--Philadelphia Theatre Company (3/16-4/15)
Chicago, IL-- Goodman Theatre (5/25-6/24)
HEAR AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ACTORS/PLAYWRIGHTS
And, a little incentive: Go see the play and I'll send you a copy of THE UNTELLING, hardcover, first edition. Just email me and let me know you saw it and tell me what you thought.
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There are 8 comments on "The Most Important Play You'll Ever See". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Ladylee ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
What? No Atlanta dates?
September 11, 2006 08:55 AM
Comment #2, by kpdreams
Tayari:
I adore theater! I’m so glad that you had such a profound experience with this play. Hopefully, I will be able to see it when the show comes to Cincinnati.
Thank you for spreading the word about the play, and doing your part to get the message out. That’s wonderful.
I promise, I want to be just like you when I grow up!!! :-)
Kizzy
September 11, 2006 09:13 AM
Comment #3, by pat
Hi Tayari,
I'm one of your devoted fans and I've been lurking in the background -- until now. Theater is my second passion, literature is my first love. I saw In The Continuum last November 2005 in New York for $15 and it was the best $15 I ever spent. This was such a marvelous production, I would have paid Broadway prices for this gem of a play and not even felt the pinch. I'm glad that you and Maxine enjoyed it. (I absolutely love Maxine's work and I've recommended October Suite to the hundreds of clubs on my mailing list.) When you get settled in the Big Apple, or its surrounding environment, I'll hit you up with a list of theatre suggestions. Later for now. Pat
September 11, 2006 11:31 AM
Comment #4, by fjoiner
Wooly Mammoth offers what they call STAMPEDE SEATS if a performance is not sold out, available seats will be sold for $10 each 15 minutes prior to showtime, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Also, if you are not quite the risk taker go to www.ticketplace.org for same day and some advanced half price and reduced price tickets
September 11, 2006 04:00 PM
Comment #5, by danigirl
Of course it would be this phenomenal play that would bring about my first comment on your blog. Excellent indeed. I've been meaning to blog about it myself. I saw it last weekend along with readings from the Page to Stage festival at the Kennedy Center. I think one of the things that struck me most was each woman's ability to change her identity sometimes with just a simple rearrangement of her scarf. The acting was just phenomenal and I can tell both women were drained by the end, understandably so. So yes, please see this when it comes to a city near you.
September 11, 2006 04:35 PM
Comment #6, by bballmom
I can't wait to see it when it arrives in LA.
Tayari, any plans for a reading/signing in LA?
September 11, 2006 06:47 PM
Comment #7, by tina
I SAW THIS PLAY IN NYC IN JUNE...AWESOME EVERY BLACK TEENAGER AND ADULT SHOULD SEE IT.
September 12, 2006 07:47 PM
Comment #8, by Teri E-B
tayari...thanks for the info on this play!! i have not seen it yet. am hoping i can catch it in another city. i had breakfast with some friends this morning and we're planning to do some grassroots awareness stuff starting with our friends and spreading out to sororities and other civic groups, if possible. but am starting with getting tested ourselves. that's where the conversation really begins. hopefully using the AIDSwalk in Atlanta this year as an event to get us kicked off...more formally. i'll send you some of our communications once we get them created. thanks again...i can't wait to see the play!
September 16, 2006 05:44 PM