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| Gilbert Lewis, Lauren Jones. |
"In Lieu of Reviews"
For background on how this previously
unpublished series—introducing all mainstream New York shows between 1970 and
1975—came to be and its relationship to my three The Encyclopedia of the New York Stage volumes (covering every New
York play, musical, revue, and revival between 1920 and 1950), please check the
prefaces to any of the earlier entries beginning with the letter “A.” See the
list at the end of the current entry.
A BALLET BEHIND THE BRIDGE [Drama/Family/Race/Trinidadian] A: Lennox
Brown; D: Douglas Turner Ward; S: Edward Burbridge; C: Bernard Johnson; L:
Jennifer Tipton; M: Joseph Brown; CH: Louis Johnson; P: Negro Ensemble Company;
T: St. Marks Playhouse (OB); 3/7/72-4/16/72 (48)
The Negro Ensemble Company took a critical drubbing with this
complex drama by West Indian dramatist Lennox Brown about a ghetto in the Port
of Spain, Trinidad, called “Behind the Bridge,” where two black brothers
diverge in their attitude toward racial conditions.
Joseph (David Downing) is headed for New York City to attend
college on a scholarship. Mano (Gilbert Lewis) is a murderous militant who has
just escaped from prison. Against a detailed background of numerous local
character types, the brothers’ ideals are set in conflict—one with his guilt
over the kowtowing to whites he must perform to gain an education; the other
with his belief that only bloodshed can achieve social change.
Brown’s play, though well produced, suffered from stereotypical
characterizations, “muddled” plotting, an unnecessary glorification of violence
as a political means, “ill-conceived flashbacks” to the 15th century
(Clive Barnes), formlessness, excessive sentimentality (Walter Kerr), and a
great need for “editing and deflating” (Edith Oliver). But its language was
strong and truthful and it possessed several excellent scenes.
Previous entries:
Abelard and
Heloise
Absurd Person
Singular
AC/DC
“Acrobats”
and “Line”
The Advertisement/
All My Sons
All Over
All Over Town
All the Girls Came
Out to Play
Alpha Beta
L’Amante Anglais
Ambassador
American Gothics
Amphitryon
And Miss Reardon
Drinks a Little
And They Put
Handcuffs on the Flowers
And Whose Little
Boy Are You?
Anna K.
Anne of Green
Gables
Antigone
Antiques
Any Resemblance to Persons Living or Dead
Applause
Ari
As You Like It
Augusta
The
Au Pair Man
Baba Goya [Nourish the Beast]
The Ballad of Johnny Pot
