An Octoroon

Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Awards:

  • Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best New Play (2017)

Synopsis
An Octoroon is a bold and provocative reimagining of Dion Boucicault’s 1859 melodrama of the same name. It tells the story of a young woman, Zoe, who discovers she is one-eighth Black and is therefore classified as an “octoroon” under the laws of the American South. Set against the backdrop of a crumbling plantation, the play explores themes of race, identity, and cultural legacy. Jacobs-Jenkins layers the original narrative with contemporary commentary, blending satire, historical critique, and theatrical experimentation to create a searing examination of America’s racial history.

Themes and Analysis

  • Race and Identity: The play confronts America’s historical and ongoing struggles with race, using the framework of a 19th-century melodrama to expose the absurdity and brutality of racial classifications.

  • Cultural Legacy: By reinterpreting a classic text, Jacobs-Jenkins examines how historical narratives shape modern understanding of identity and power.

  • Theatrical Satire: The play critiques the conventions of theatre itself, breaking the fourth wall and using metatheatrical techniques to challenge audience expectations.

  • Slavery and Humanity: Through its vivid characters and dramatic moments, the play humanises the horrors of slavery while refusing to shy away from its realities.

Key Moments

  • The Playwright’s Monologue: Jacobs-Jenkins opens the play with a direct address to the audience, humorously deconstructing his creative process and setting the tone for the meta-commentary to come.

  • Zoe’s Revelation: The discovery of Zoe’s racial status drives the plot while revealing the arbitrary and destructive nature of racial categorisation.

  • The Melodramatic Climax: The exaggerated, over-the-top conclusion of the original melodrama is repurposed to underscore the tragedy and absurdity of systemic racism.

  • Modern Interjections: Contemporary elements, such as multimedia projections and modern vernacular, create a sharp juxtaposition with the 19th-century setting.

Critical Reception
An Octoroon was celebrated for its daring, originality, and incisive critique of race and representation in both history and theatre. Critics hailed Jacobs-Jenkins’s ability to blend humour with searing social commentary, making the play both entertaining and thought-provoking.

The New York Times described it as “explosively funny and brutally sobering,” while The Guardian called it “a masterpiece of theatrical form and political urgency.”

Why It Resonates Today
In an era of heightened awareness about systemic racism and social justice, An Octoroon remains an urgent and relevant work. Its ability to interrogate the past while challenging contemporary audiences makes it a powerful tool for fostering dialogue about race and representation.

Fun Facts

  • Jacobs-Jenkins uses whiteface, blackface, and redface in the play to highlight and critique stereotypes and performative identity in theatre.

  • The play premiered in New York before its acclaimed UK debut at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, London.

  • The use of multimedia and meta-theatrical elements has made the play a favourite for innovative directors and performers.