Playwright: J. T. Rogers. At: The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee. Phone: 773-283-7071; $20-$25. Runs through: March 1
White People doesn't reveal anything I don't already know. Every sentient American surely has examined many times the latent and/or blatant racism that affects our thoughts and actions almost daily. Still, this powerfully written and forcefully acted play is a bracing and disturbing refresher course on the fragile equilibrium of civil life and the thin fabric of social order.
White People offers three intertwined monologues in which a New York college professor, a lawyer from modest roots, and a poor Southerner—all white but from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds—gradually reveal their prejudices, both subtle and unsubtle, and their efforts ( or lack thereof ) to confront their prejudices. The monologues climax in acts of emotional or physical violence across racial lines, white against Black as well as Black against white.
What's apparent is that no one ever is prepared to deal with violence, no matter one's social background, education or prejudices, nor whether one is victim or perpetrator. Perpetrators of racial violence are fueled by anger and rage, while such acts unleash anger and rage among victims as well as fear.
Fundamentally, racism is a symptom, not the disease. Racism is an expression of anger, rage and blind hatred rather than the source of them. The liberal professor comes closest to explaining it in response to a racial attack made on him and his pregnant wife by three youths: 'They didn't want what I owned, they wanted what I have.' They didn't want a watch or wallet, but the implicit status and opportunity attached to white skin. At the same time, the North Carolina mom with a high school education and a retarded child lashes out not only at African-American but also at Asians and Latinos, people lacking her All-American heritage who have leap-frogged over her in education and economic achievement.
This pungent and pithy play also has a great deal to say about the nature of language, words, history and the inability of people to communicate directly and effectively with each other across lines of economic class and race or even parent to child. They are bewildered by cultural changes seemingly effected without anyone's permission.
It's almost a separate theme and subtext of the play, except that it's a root cause of frustration and anger: the sense that no one is listening to us or understanding. All three characters spill private thoughts directly to the audience and then immediately add, 'But that's not what I said.'
Seen at a preview, White People already was ready to rock, with strongly voiced yet nuanced performances by Paul D'Addario ( the professor ) , John Kelly Connolly ( the attorney ) and Anna Carini, under the thoughtful direction of Michael Patrick Thornton. The Gift Theatre has brought another provocative winner to its Jefferson Park storefront.
