THE 1041C Theater Reviews

The Lincoln Center’s production of John Guare’s A Free Man of Color is marked with colorful sets, costumes, and dialogue.

A tale of one man’s triumph and plight in nineteenth century New Orleans, A Free Man of Color provides viewers with an insight into the life of Jacques Cornet, a half-black man who has purchased his own freedom.

While it seems Guare intended the play to be a tragicomedy, it isn’t able to successfully strike the balance, and turns out to be more of a melodrama. With the exception of the last act, in which Cornel suffers a debilitating end at the hands of the American government, the play has an extremely light-hearted tone that does not mesh well with its conclusion. The jokes are so over-the-top that it is surprising that Guare would chose to approach such a serious issue in this light-hearted a manor. If he had intended on keeping it comedic from beginning to end, that would have been one thing, but the sharp turn that the play takes in its final moments is as sudden and unsettling as being forced on a death-drop rollercoaster when all you’ve ever known is the merry-go-round.

That said, the set design is brilliant and perhaps the best element of the production. The wide range of sets employed is particularly notable, from well-endowed Cornel’s manor, with a very colorful array of nineteenth century furniture, to the empty expanse of the Great White North. The props used are equally elaborate, from the grand roll-out maps to the portrait frames from which many actors make their entrance.

The costumes are equally well put together, with many of them leaving little to the imagination.

The stage direction was superb as well; the actors are able to maneuver around and change the complicated sets with conviction and ease.

While none of the actors deliver Tony-Award winning performances (though that might be near impossible given the material), the acting is certainly not lacking. It was good to see the familiar faces of Joseph Marcell and Mos Def, who were excellent in their respective roles. Lead Jeffrey Wright as Jacques Cornel is equally exceptional. Particularly impressive is Paul Dano, whose role as Meriwether Lewis, President Jefferson’s aid, gains increasing significance as the plot unfolds.

Thus, while the historical accuracy is lacking in places, along with a less-than sturdy plot, if for nothing else, A Free Man of Color is worth attending for its high production value.