Stray Cat Theatre's THE BROTHERS SIZE Is A Spellbinding And Provocative Theatrical Experience

Sunday, September 28, 2014
BroadwayWorld.com

REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS



Ron May once again distinguishes himself as a creative force in his brilliant and sensitive direction of Tarell McCraney's The Brothers Size. Damon J. Bolling, Michael Thompson, and DeJean Brown deliver riveting, muscular, and breathtaking performances as the play's protagonists (Ogun, Oshoosi, and Elegba).



This play is storytelling in its highest form, drilling deep into the heart of human darkness and tapping a wellspring of sounds and furies that jostles an audience's thoughts and emotions. We become partners in the drama of the characters, understanding their expectations, aspirations, and follies.



The tension between the characters is a dance of wills, dramatically visible in their richly defined gestures and movements, ever rhythmic and pulsating, and reaching a crescendo in a moment of brotherhood that admittedly moved me and brought tears to my eyes.



The experience of this production is heightened by Eric Beeck's stark but elegant set, beautifully accented by Ellen Bone's lighting, that transports us into the humid environs of the Louisiana bayou town of San Pere. Framed by (appropriately) weeping willows, Ogun's yard is crammed with the tools of his trade. One can almost feel the heat and smell the grease and oil. A raised platform is the stage on which the dance ensues and evolves.



After experiencing this production, it is perfectly easy to understand why the Chicago Tribune hailed The Brothers Size as "the greatest piece of writing by an American playwright under 30 in a generation or more." Ron May's production has served to enhance and solidify that proposition.



THIS IS AN ABRIDGED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL REVIEW - READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY BELOW

THE BROTHERS SIZE