THE 1041C Theater Reviews

I really enjoyed the “A Free Man of Color” play. Despite the long three hours, it was definitely not the boring and lackluster play I imagined. Everything there was vibrant and beautiful. Essentially, it was a proscenium seven sided stage with double tiered seats. There was also a proscenium arch. Despite the crowded seating, the atmosphere was very comfortable and amicable.

The first thing I noticed when the play started was the costume Jacques Cornet first wore. His costume was comprised of gold, purple, and bright red textures and clothes. It was surprising because I never realized that people wore such vibrant clothes during that time period. I was also surprised when parts of the floor were moving and changing. For example, when Jacques told his slave Cupidon to get his treasure chest of clothes, a part of the floor descended down and ascended back up with a chest. They did this change throughout the play with different types of props like chairs, ship, tables, and more.

I noticed a lot of common elements used throughout the play. For example, each of the characters took turns talking by standing in front of the audience. In addition to this, light was shown on them to enhance their facial expressions. Plus, I had no problem hearing them talk because their voices were amplified inside the enclosed arena. There was also a narrator that said all the actions that were happening or were about to happen. This is similar to a chorus. One element I enjoyed hearing and watching was the exaggerated noises the characters made.  For example, when Jacques and the girls were almost done with sex, the girls exclaimed really loud moan of ecstasies and there was a firework sound effect. There were also shadows made to emphasize the secrecy among the citizens of New Orleans.

Another thing I really liked about the play was all the sexual innuendos the actors implied. They were really hilarious and the jokes kept me awake throughout the long play. The different types of scenic props were also very exciting for me. I was shocked by how they were able to change the background constantly to fit the next scene. They went from hanging trees to the American flag to cages/doors. I was captivated by how the actors and actresses were able to every part of the stage to convey entirely different places like the living room or the yard of a poor man’s house.

Despite it being vibrant and theatrical, the play also has historical significance. Jacques and the other characters talked about major themes during that time. For example, they talked about slavery, marriage, politics and power, and land. It was interesting how they incirpoated historical context into the play but yet, made it humorous and alluring. Overall, I would definitely recommend this play. It is full of historical knowledge but yet, funny and hilarious.

-Christine