Slave Play

Written by Jeremy O. Harris
Awards:

  • Tony Award Nominee for Best Play (2021)

  • Outer Critics Circle Award for John Gassner Playwriting Award (2020)

Synopsis
Slave Play is a provocative and controversial exploration of race, sexuality, and power in America. Set on a fictional plantation, the play initially appears to be a historical drama but quickly reveals itself as a contemporary exploration of interracial relationships through a form of therapy called “Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy.” Harris uses bold and often uncomfortable scenes to confront deep-seated racial tensions and the legacy of slavery, pushing audiences to question their assumptions about history, identity, and privilege.

Themes and Analysis

  • Race and Power Dynamics: The play examines how the legacy of slavery continues to shape modern relationships and societal structures.

  • Sexuality and Identity: By exploring the intersection of race and intimacy, Slave Play challenges taboos and highlights the complexities of desire and control.

  • Privilege and Accountability: Harris critiques the complacency of those who benefit from systemic inequalities, urging audiences to confront their complicity.

  • Theatre as Confrontation: The play uses shock and discomfort to provoke dialogue and reflection, breaking traditional theatrical norms.

Key Moments

  • The Initial Role-Playing Scenes: The opening act’s provocative depictions of plantation life are revealed to be part of a modern therapeutic exercise, subverting audience expectations.

  • The Therapy Sessions: Characters unpack their experiences, revealing raw emotions and complex dynamics that highlight the weight of history.

  • Kaneisha’s Monologue: A powerful and emotional moment where the character articulates the pain and contradictions of living with generational trauma.

  • The Shattering Conclusion: The play ends with a scene that leaves audiences unsettled and introspective, emphasizing the unresolved nature of its themes.

Critical Reception
Slave Play received both acclaim and criticism for its audacious approach to sensitive topics. While many praised its boldness and innovation, others found its confrontational style divisive. Despite this, Jeremy O. Harris was widely recognized for pushing boundaries and sparking important conversations.

The New York Times described it as “the most radical Broadway play in years,” while The Guardian called it “a daring and complex work that forces uncomfortable truths into the open.”

Why It Resonates Today
In a society grappling with the legacy of racism and systemic inequality, Slave Play serves as an urgent and uncompromising examination of these issues. Its unapologetic approach challenges audiences to reflect on their own biases and the ways history continues to shape the present.

Fun Facts

  • Jeremy O. Harris wrote Slave Play as a graduate student at Yale School of Drama.

  • The play made history as the most Tony-nominated play in Broadway history, earning 12 nominations in 2021.

  • Harris described Slave Play as a “litmus test” for audiences, aiming to spark discomfort and dialogue.