A BURNING ISSUE
The Independent|July 11, 2024
‘Slave Play’ has finally arrived loudly in London, and it’s a sharp, intelligent, multi-layered satire
Alice Saville
A BURNING ISSUE

The best-known work by controversial American playwright Jeremy O Harris begins like the most messed-up bedroom farce imaginable. Three interracial couples play out master-slave sexual scenarios, whips cracking and slurs flying in front of an electrified audience whose brains almost tangibly crackle and short-circuit as they work out how to react.

Poker face? Performative horror? Or just awkward laughter at the buttock-wobbling spectacle of a Southern-accented white woman decked out like a toilet-roll dolly, brandishing her grandmother’s dildo?

It’s a crude opening that mirrors the nuance-free media storm around Slave Play. When it premiered on Broadway in 2019, the cast received death threats. When its West End run announced that some performances would be reserved for Black audiences as part of the “Black Out nights” initiative, an official spokesperson for the then prime minister Rishi Sunak condemned the idea as “wrong” and “divisive”.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 11, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 11, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE INDEPENDENTAlle anzeigen
Brexit Deals A £3bn-A-Year Blow To UK Food Exports
The Independent

Brexit Deals A £3bn-A-Year Blow To UK Food Exports

British food sales to the EU have fallen by almost a fifth since the end of the Brexit transition period, a new report shows

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024
Biden Criticised Across The Board For Pardoning His Son
The Independent

Biden Criticised Across The Board For Pardoning His Son

President’s decision slated by Republicans and Democrats

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024
Why 8 hours is a myth and other athletes' sleep secrets
The Independent

Why 8 hours is a myth and other athletes' sleep secrets

Performance coach Greg Meehan tells Alex Pattle how he keeps clients, including boxers and footballers, in top shape

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024
Women like me won't stand for this treatment any more
The Independent

Women like me won't stand for this treatment any more

When I woke up to MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace blaming midlife, middle-class women and their lack of a sense of humour for his troubles, I confess to swearing at my phone.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024
The BBC's Wallace problem goes beyond MasterChef
The Independent

The BBC's Wallace problem goes beyond MasterChef

Is the fate of a television cookery presenter more important than Syrian insurgents seizing Aleppo and the turmoil on the streets in Georgia? The BBC thinks so, based on its news judgements in recent days, which have seen exhaustive coverage of the accusations against Gregg Wallace take precedence over matters of life and death around the world.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024
Edwards knew that he was beaten but he never gave up
The Independent

Edwards knew that he was beaten but he never gave up

Former world flyweight champion told cornerman, 'I don't want to be here' after two rounds of his loss to Galal Yafai

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024
Proud Welshman who drew every drop from his talent
The Independent

Proud Welshman who drew every drop from his talent

Terry Griffiths was the first qualifier to lift the world crown

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024
Former world champion Terry Griffiths dies, aged 77
The Independent

Former world champion Terry Griffiths dies, aged 77

Tributes have been paid to former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths, who died on Sunday at the age of 77 after a long battle with dementia.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024
Transformed Gravenberch embodies Slot's Liverpool
The Independent

Transformed Gravenberch embodies Slot's Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp had a habit of sounding prophetic. Or he had the capacity, whether through coaching and tactical prowess or force of personality, to make some of what he said come true.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024
Soaring house prices heap pressure on fixer Rayner
The Independent

Soaring house prices heap pressure on fixer Rayner

Sorry to make a soggy start to the week even more miserable, but it brings bad news for homebuyers. The housing market has taken a shot of adrenaline and performed a season’s best in the high jump.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 03, 2024