Original Review
https://events.at/amp/theater-wien/n-theater-drachengasse-kritik/402777595 

Translation of published review…

The Theater Drachengasse addresses racism in the play “N” by Adrienne Pender. The stage of the Theater Drachengasse is adorned with huge plants and projections of birds. Animal noises are heard in the background. One finds oneself in the middle of the jungle and thus in a play within a play. On stage, we see the author Eugene O’Neill, who has hired the Black actor Charles S. Gilpin to stage his work “The Emperor Jones.” He is supposed to take on the lead role of Brutus Jones. Together, they aim to show how Jones, a man of humble origins, rises to become the emperor of a West Indian island.

The story sounds simple, but the circumstances are difficult because the story takes place in 1920s New York. Gilpin is the first Black actor to set foot on Broadway stages – however, he must make compromises. This is because the script of the still relatively unknown Eugene O’Neill is filled with stereotypes about Black people. The N-word even appears several times.

Although Gilpin resists it, he initially agrees to pave the way for Black actors from minstrel shows. “They call us N because they think we call each other that, but I can make that okay,” Charles justifies to his wife Florence, but she advises against it – “say the lines he wrote,” is her advice. He should do his job as required since she wants Charles to keep his job. He receives $50 per week for his acting performances.

Insurmountable Divide

When Charles S. Gilpin and Eugene O’Neill achieve breakthrough success with “Emperor Jones,” the gulf between the two men becomes insurmountable: racism, class differences, unequal treatment drive them apart. While O’Neill insists that he created Brutus Jones (based on his views of Black people), Gilpin is convinced that he has infused the character with a soul.

O’Neill’s condescending attitude towards Gilpin is evident in some dialogues: for example, he wishes to see Gilpin in a Shakespeare play. However, when Gilpin quotes Othello, O’Neill is visibly shocked that a Black man even knows the English poet. At this moment, Gilpin seems to finally realize: to O’Neill, he will never be more than the Black actor whom he helped to fame.

Depth and Bitter Aftertaste

The play comes alive through Gilpin’s performance (Randall Galera): his evolution from the confident emperor on stage to the embittered, unemployed actor who did not adhere to the rules of the scriptwriter, is testament to a brilliant performance.

The dynamic between Gilpin and O’Neill (Pete Steele) is captivating and touching at the same time, the emotions authentic. Steele’s outburst as he justifies his work and his white supremacy is compelling. Similarly, Lynne Ann Williams convinces as Florence with her gentle and wise demeanor.

However, the role of the woman could have been further developed. For example, the play could have addressed the difficult lives of Black women or explored how she deals with living in the shadow of a successful man.

Innovative Implementation at the Theater Drachengasse

Bringing a play that revolves around a play onto the stage is an art in itself. This implementation was successful for the British director Joanna Godwin-Seidl, who lives in Vienna. For Adrienne Pender’s drama, Godwin-Seidl used the stage innovatively: a picture within a picture, so to speak – a table and a chair symbolize Gilpin’s living room, while the huge plants serve as the stage set for “The Emperor Jones”. The spotlight always accompanies the audience into the scene.

For the almost one-and-a-half-hour play, heavy topics such as racism, discrimination, and unequal treatment were made tangible. Nevertheless, the role of the woman deserved a bit more space. However, the full house and repeated applause testify to the acting skills of the three performers, who took the audience on an emotional rollercoaster ride between laughter, astonishment, embarrassment, and sadness.

vienna theatre project
Starring: Randall Galera, Peter Steele and Lynne Ann Williams Directed by Joanna Godwin-Seidl 12.02 – 24.02 2024 8pm Theater Drachengasse, Drachengasse 2, 1010 Vienna ticket.drachengasse.at