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Overview

Synopsis

Jean Genet’s exploration of racial prejudice and stereotypes remains as shocking and provocative today as it was in 1959. Inspired by Ghana’s independence in 1957 (the first black African country to free itself from imperial rule), The Blacks analyzes the whole dynamic of race and the perception of black and white. Using the framework of a play within a play, a troupe of black actors reenact the entrapment, rape, and subsequent murder of a white woman before a court of black actors masked up to look white and therefore representing an onstage extension of the white audience members. At the head of the court sits the Queen, who relies on the support of her entourage as she comments on the action before her and then leads the mission to avenge the white woman’s death. The reenactment, we are advised, is performed every evening. However, there is also a separate “play” occurring outside the play that takes on an increasingly sinister tone. Newport News disappears and reappears with news of a prisoner and an interrogation. This external action is subsequently revealed to be the trial and execution of a black man judged to have betrayed his black comrades in an antiwhite revolution.

The Blacks was a landmark production in the early days of the Off-Broadway movement and featured James Earl Jones, Maya Angelou, Roscoe Lee Browne, Cicely Tyson, Lou Gossett Jr., and Charles Gordone amongst the cast.

Note: Written in the 1950s, The Blacks is deliberately controversial and uses language and expressions that a modern-day audience may not be comfortable with. It is designed to shock and provoke a reaction.

Show Information

Book
Jean Genet
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Mature Audiences (M)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
1959
Genres
Dark Comedy, Drama
Settings
Simple/No Set
Time & Place
A reenactment of a royal court
Cast Size
medium
Ideal For
College/University, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Archibald Absalom Wellington

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Village

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Diouf

Lead

Male

Non-singer

The Queen

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Adelaide Bobo

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Augusta Snow

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Felicity Trollop Pardon

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Missionary

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Judge

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Governor

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Valet

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Edgar Alas Newport News

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher