This review of Lynn Nottage's "Sweat," which opened on Broadway Sunday with the same cast, first appeared in November with the opening of the original Public Theater production. Stan tries to stop it but ends up getting hit. [15] A five-star review of the production by Peter Mason in the Morning Star newspaper described Sweat as "a tension-filled drama with a turbulent, consuming plot and a cast of highly engaging characters who demand attention from the off," adding of the Donmar cast that "it would be difficult to imagine a better set of players to take on the difficult task of portraying such complex individuals". Nottage began to write the play in 2011 and set its events during two notable economic downturns: the 2000 to 2001 recession following the dot com bubble and the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009. [] Im not prejudice, I say, you are who you are, you know? But I stood on line, patiently waiting for a break. In the world of the play, attempting to raise ones status and transcend ones current situation breeds resentment among the very friends who commiserated with that situation. Oscar now works there as the manager, and he takes care of Stan, who we find out has suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the fight. Well, my familys been here a long time. The themes in Sweat are timeless, and the play is a microcosm of today's issues relating to poverty, race, and discrimination. Fight director Steve Raskin makes the final confrontation realistic and harrowing. I hope a lot of people come to see it.. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Lynn Nottage. The play is centered on the working class of Reading, Pennsylvania. Academic Policies They both are arrested for assault and are released eight years later. In a sense, Reading represents a broader diminishment of the American middle class, a sector of the population whose once-reliable sources of worksuch as in factories and millshave been in decline in recent years. Lead the Pack", How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sweat_(play)&oldid=1127802853, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia introduction cleanup from May 2022, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from May 2022, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 December 2022, at 19:00. It highlights serious problems in society such as racism, economic strain, drug abuse, and toxic relationships. CYNTHIA: [] You know after everything. CYNTHIA: Fuck her. 2023 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Nov. 912 at 7:30 p.m. Sweat is a two-act play written by Lynn Nottage. Nottage addresses the theme of social status, specifically in how the characters lives and relationships are shaped based on job position, socio-economic class, and education. Everyone tries to stay positive, but as the strike goes on, they begin to get desperate. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2017. In Lynette Lintons production, Frankie Bradshaws impressive design sets the watering hole against a background of rusting girders. At the beginning of 2000, every character is either part of the working class or experiencing the repercussions of union strikes. 30 December 2016. Before this, her inspiration came from her family. The 2008 sequences also shine a spotlight on Chris and Jason's mysterious crime without revealing that incident until the end, leaving the audience waiting for the other shoe to drop instead of being able to focus on the complex relationships Nottage builds and the reflection of America in civil strife. I feel that its a common problem in our society to portray immigrants as needy and that they get special treatment for their race. The play, however, takes place pre-Trump. Download the entire Sweat study guide as a printable PDF! [] I betcha they wanted a minority. 100% plagiarism free, Orders: 7 Working with this diverse cast of student actors to climb inside this story has been a gift. Tracy is a middle aged white woman. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. Complete your free account to request a guide. Tell me about whats been going on. They all work together and love to hang out at the local bar. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." The last date is today's The two men have not seen each other since the events that led to their incarceration. Ive taken orders from idiots who were dangerous, or even worse, racist. Tickets will be available at the door in the Squires Student Center beginning one hour prior to the performance. Though the play is brimming with these rich themes, the execution does not always succeed. Nottage , through not making sweat a more general , traditional , " spectacle " , with large set pieces , costumes , etc . This contributed to the story of the play, as we continually see different scenes centered around drinking, especially after work or on stressful days. Lastly, although my point of interest related to the issue of diversity through the play, the violent hate crime towards Oscar was influential in the sense it led to a lot of reflection for the audience. It opened my eyes that racial slurs used in this production are still used today, and I believe that should've scared anyone in the audience. CYNTHIA: Ive stood on that line, same line since I was nineteen. To combat this constant strain and underappreciation, the members of Readings working-class community depend upon tight-knit relationships with one another as a means of stress relief, support, and fulfillment. The characters in Sweat have spent decades of their lives thanklessly laboring in Reading Pennsylvania's local steel and textile mills amid poor working conditions, disrespectful management, and union disputes. Club members can see a different show every night of the week. Lynn Nottage's Sweat is an unusual and rewarding play, depicting social reality not often seen in the American theater. Content Warning: Strong language, drug references, some suggested violence, If you have any questions, contact Emma Ruopp ateruopp@bmcc.cuny.edu, Borough of Manhattan Community College All Oscar reiterates how he was born here as well, yet Tracey was too blinded by the difference in ethnicity to see her wrongdoing. Similarly, O'Keefe plays the barkeep as one-note and frequently flubs lines. The play portrays a meeting between a parole officer and two ex-convicts, and three women who were childhood friends and had worked in the same factory. No matter if it was during Jessies birthday celebration, Traceys birthday celebration, or just a casual hangout at Stans bar. The creative elements of the production fare better, with Christopher Barreca's set taking audiences to the neighborhood bar so one can almost smell the stale beer on the floor. Moving up the corporate ladder results in a loss of friendships and social exclusion. Order original paper now and save your time! The bartender is Stan, who used to work at the factory with them until he suffered an injury. After the lockout goes forward, Cynthias friendship with Tracey completely disintegratesand when the play jumps forward from 2000 to 2008, its revealed that theyve never reconciled. Tracey's attempts to be alluring do not convince Stan, so they stop dancing as. Unfortunately, that kinetic energy is all on one level, high, so the audience feels distanced from the characters. This kind of intimate friendship seems to be the norm rather than the exception in Reading: Traceys son Jason and Cynthias son Chris are also best friends who work at Olsteads and who depend on each other for solidarity and camaraderie. Sweat, Lynn Nottage's play about discrimination at the workplace and the effect of economic downturns, returns to Philadelphia, courtesy of the Old Academy Players. Who is the antagonist in the play Sweat by Lynn Nottage? New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2009. We are left hoping the characters will attempt to make amends as we see the effects of the conflict. Tracey talks about an upcoming promotion at work and how there is a rumor that they want to promote someone from the floor to a manager position. Ed. She believes that their city was founded by her German ancestors and that Olsteads was not for people like them. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves at the best online prices at eBay! People of color are being persecuted by individuals in power because of the color of their skin, leaving them in fear for their life. 199 Chambers Street Lynn Nottage, as she showed in Intimate Apparel, which was about a seamstress in the 1900s, has the capacity to dramatise work. Tracey, who comes from a family of German craftsmen, is a militant unionist but bereft without employment. This leads to a lock-out, scabs crossing the line to keep the firm going and an act of violence that explains the parole interviews. This change proves to be an advantage for Cynthia professionally, but a disadvantage personally. Jason [8][12] The production began previews on Broadway at Studio 54 on March 4, 2017, before opening on March 26. The acting is superlative. These are only the main characters. For online purchase, find ticket links here. Free shipping for many products! Directory, News Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Struggling with distance learning? Tensions rise as Cynthias new position pits her against her friends. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Sweat dissects the insidiousness of privilege and entitlement, reminding audiences that there's always someone on a lower plane to blame for your troubles, and there will always be someone who stands to profit from your loss. [3], The play also examines the disintegration of a friendship, after two of the women one white, one black apply for the same management job. THEMEGUIDE KNOW BEFORE THE SHOW o Playwright Lynn Nottage was born in Brooklyn in 1964 and was educated at Brown University and the Yale School of Drama. He used to work at the plant but he was injured from a factory accident. Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. In 2008, Chris and Jason both find themselves back at the bar to find some peace. These fights over workers rights have claimed large parts of the lives of all three men, and their mothers must await their sons release, knowing their criminal record and their experience of incarceration will stay with them forever. CYNTHIA: I didnt expect you to understand, babe. But I meancmonyou guys coming over here, you can get a job faster than. The second is the date of I hope that they will ask really tough conversations, not just of themselves but of the legislators and the people who are in power, she said. "Sweat - Themes" eNotes Publishing Event Calendar All university community members and visitors will need to display a parking permit, use theParkMobile app,pay a fee, or pay using an hourly meter to park on the Blacksburg campus unless otherwise noted by signage. Complimentary and Deeply Discounted Shows. She witnessed these strong spoken women growing up, and wanted to do the same herself. The sense of personal betrayal is exacerbated when it is left to Cynthia to reveal that the firm plans to ask everyone to take a 60% pay cut to save the plant. He finds out through his Latino network that the plant is hiring, which the owners have hidden from the other workers. All rights reserved. Background. This specific scene supports how the usage of alcohol as a prop was continually utilized as a coping mechanism for many characters. CHRIS: Dude, its just something I gotta do. They are best friends and joke around together. The bartender in the play is Stan. Refine any search. [5] Nottage herself even spoke at the strike, which is what made her realize she had to do more. Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Sweat, now playing at the Mark Taper Forum, exposes the collapse of the American working class in the new millennium.When backed up against the wall and . She bitterly tells Oscar, the busboy at the bar, that she know[s] the floor as good as Cynthia does, and Jessie confirms that Cynthias promotion has pissed off a lot of people even though she earned it fairly. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Give to BMCC An immediate divide is created between Cynthia and her friends. It won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Due to a lot of anger and resentment throughout the production, there were various racial slurs that stuck out to me because of our current problem of racism in society today. Doheny Library: PS3564.O795 S94 2017 o Nottage, Lynn. By signing up you are confirming you are 16 or over. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. TRACEY: Well, I got you beat by two. But when characters begin to distance themselves from the status quo and pursue different opportunities, these relationships gradually disintegrate as those left behind feel resentful of their friends new paths. Jason finds that Tracey has a significant pill addiction. However, Sweats cast of characters is anything but empowered: rather than resist the hand theyve been dealt, they, The characters in Sweat have spent decades of their lives thanklessly laboring in Reading Pennsylvanias local steel and textile mills amid poor working conditions, disrespectful management, and union disputes. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Sweat challenged my thinking and led me to analyze serious problems that still have not been solved. More vacation. Peterson unleashes her actors like pinballs, bouncing off each other, intensifying until they explode in the climax. The Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts will present Lynn Nottages award-winning Sweat for eight performances, opening on Nov. 9 in Squires Studio Theatre. The playwright shows how owners manipulate individual efforts to advance in order to destroy solidarity and instead foster suspicions, mistrust, and rifts between friends. The plays setting offers an appropriate stage on which to explore this theme. The play portrays a meeting between a parole officer and two ex-convicts, and three women who were childhood friends and had worked in the same factory. We dont really. eNotes Editorial. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Alumni Stories|Faculty Stories|Student Stories|Philanthropy News|Academic News|Bookshelf|Media Mentions I dont think you get it, but if I walk away, Im giving up more than a job, Im giving up all that time I spent standing on line waiting for one damn opportunity. You hear from the old gang? Donmar Warehouse, LondonBased on interviews with residents of small-town Pennsylvania, Lynn Nottages play vividly describes the betrayal and resentments of striking female factory workers in an era of industrial decline. Thursday-Saturday February 23-25 at 7:30pm. The employees work lives and decisions about organizing likewise affect their children. AHRM NewsASPECT News|Awards and Honors|Bookshelf|Communication News|English News|History News Stan seems to be the link between Oscar and the others, as the others treat Oscar like an outsider. Stan, a middle-aged white man with a limp, bartends, and when the two women invite him to dance with them, he refuses. [14], A London production opened at the Donmar Warehouse on 7 December 2018, running until 2 February 2019. The second date is today's In a world deemed as free, there are still so many disparities within that statement. Stan is severely injured, and the youths are arrested, convicted, and incarcerated. Oscar asks Tracey about job openings on the floor, and Tracey says he must have heard wrong because Olsteads is not hiring and you have to know someone to get in anyway. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Sweat [TCG Edition] Good Book 0 paperback at the best online prices at eBay! Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Sweat, now playing at the Mark Taper Forum, exposes the collapse of the American working class in the new millennium. Filled with warm humor and tremendous heart, Sweat tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets, and laughs while working together on the factory floor. 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