With midterms in full swing and several large projects on my plate, stress and I have become even closer friends than we were originally. Initially, I thought going to see an evening performance at the Baruch Performing Arts Center by a playwright I never heard of before would be dull and a waste of time. After the conclusion of the performance, I couldn’t have been more wrong about my initial thoughts.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a two-time Pulitzer finalist and a MacArthur Fellow, gave an insightful interview and hilarious preview of select excerpts from plays he produced or is currently developing. The actors and actresses of the excerpts gave a phenomenal performance that added to the hilarity and the striking reality of the scenes depicted concerning society’s past and present circumstances. The content and emotions of the performances reminded me of a satire because they included comical jokes and gestures aimed at highlighting pitiful or daunting aspects of society and human behavior.
The first staged reading from Jenkins’ play Gloria was incredibly impactful, shocking, and relevant to contemporary events. (Spoiler Alert) Following Gloria’s office shooting rampage, watching Dean and Kendra, two survivors of the shooting, fight over who should get the book rights over disclosing the details of the event was despicable. It was disgusting how both of them traded insults at each other about the extent of who was more directly affected and has closer connections to the shooting, while seamlessly stating each one of them should have the right to discuss the names and personalities of the people killed. The names of the victims, in this case, appeared more like profitable assets to further either Dean’s or Kendra’s career and wealth. The hostility between the two characters highlighted the adverse effects of a toxic workplace environment and the prevalence of mass shootings in America. The line that caught me the most is when Kendra said it seems people tend to remember and glorify the perpetrator more than the victims, which sometimes is what the perpetrator wants and inspires other people to commit horrid attacks. While this staged reading didn’t include many funny lines, it was extremely captivating and a sad testament to society’s toxic, polarized state.
The staged reading of Gurls had me laughing so hard at the stereotypical dramatical gossip that occurs between three girls hanging out at a dance party. The inclusion of vulgarity, dramatic yelling and complaining, and each actress addressing each other as “gurl” made the scene relatable for the audience and added to the understanding of the scene. The scene demonstrated the need for people to share their thoughts, emotions, stresses, and share some gossip they eagerly desire to tell someone. The girls were looking for a release of all of these pent-up thoughts and sought to release them at a dance party with the girls they meet at the party. Also, the scene demonstrates how we all have burdens of stress and pain we need to alleviate by socializing with other people and engaging in rejuvenating experiences.
The third excerpt was from a piece Jenkins is currently producing, so it was interesting to get a sneak-peak at an upcoming production. This staged reading also contained numerous hilarious jokes and cringy moments. While the background information of the scene wasn’t provided, it was evident there was resentment, awkwardness, and tension between the producer and director of a film. Witnessing how both of them are required to work together on finishing this film is exceptionally relatable for anyone who has ever had to work on a project with someone they didn’t like or had tension with. Also, the addition of the actor-producer’s hysterical comments filled with vulgarity and perversion made the scene incredibly enjoyable.
Overall, it was a fantastic experience to see and hear Jenkins sit down to share some insights about what inspired him to produce these plays, how he got to this moment, and the advice he had for the audience about pursuing their ambitions. After these performances, I really want to see the entire length of the plays now. I hope more people will discover and become interested in this distinguished playwright and his work.
