“A Soldier’s Play” uses a murder mystery to explore the complicated feelings of anger and resentment that some African Americans have toward one another, and the ways in which many black Americans have absorbed white racist attitudes.
The revival of the 1981 play which premiered by Negro Ensemble Company, makes its grand debut on Broadway and captivates with one of the most incredible performances I’ve seen on stage. Inspired by playwright Charles Fuller’s own experiences in the US Army, “A Soldier’s Play” is set in 1944 in Louisiana and deals with racial tension but also explores the inner turmoil of self-identity and the black struggle of having to alter oneself in order to succeed in a white world.
When Army Sergeant Waters (David Alan Grier) is murdered, Captain Davenport (Blair Underwood) arrives at the base to investigate. Shocked that Davenport is a black superior in the military, Captain Taylor (Jerry O’Connell) has a hard time respecting and taking orders from him. There is speculation that the Klan may have been responsible for the Sergeant’s death but as Davenport interrogates each private about Water’s character, the secret resentment and hate the privates have for Waters comes to the surface. As Captain Taylor warns Davenport that no white superior will take this case seriously and tries to get it dismissed, Davenport does not stand down and eventually, Captain Taylor supports him.
The killer is finally revealed and you learn that it is one of his own privates by the name of Melvin Peterson (Nnamdi Asomugha). As the story unfolds you see flashbacks of the intense relationship between the privates and Sergeant Waters as he constantly scolds them for not living up to white standards. As he deals with his own inner struggles of being looked down upon despite his life long efforts to be seen as equal, his rage is taken out on his own whom he has grown immense disdain for.
This play is deep, beautifully performed, and definitely one I will be talking about for a long time. The cast was superb, lead by three incredible actors Blair Underwood, David Alan Grier, and Jerry O’ Connell. I also want to point out the amazing performance by Nnamdi Asomugha who is such a committed actor and so great to watch! This is his Broadway debut.
Now performing at the American Airlines Theatre in New York City thru March 15th
