“Reparations” tells the story of a recently widowed white book editor who invites a younger black writer to her apartment, only to find that a night of tenderness and passion turns into a complex and unforeseen morning-after when he threatens to reveal a dark secret. Will the young writer succeed in his attempt to claim his reparations for a life of racial injustice?
When Reg (Kamal Bolden), a promising writer meets an editor named Ginny (Alexandra Neil) at a book party, he ends up back at her place. While raving about his new book, he mentions the constant rejection he’s had getting his work published and looks to Ginny who can help him. As they converse about the characters in his novel, the conversation turns into a dialogue about race which makes Ginny uncomfortable. As Reg learns more about her, she reveals that her recently deceased husband, a well-respected educator, will receive a statue in his honor for his amazing contributions in his career.
Things take a huge turn the next morning as Ginny prepares a meal for her friends Alister Jacobs (Gys de Villiers), a big-time publisher and his wife Millie (Lisa Arrindell), who will arrive for lunch. Reg admits that their meeting at the book party was no accident and he is actually a former student of her late husband who sexually assaulted him when he was a teenager. Living with shame and anger for all of those years, Reg demands reparations by threatening to go public with the story if Ginny doesn’t convince Alister to publish his book.
When the couple arrives, Reg makes a huge impression upon Millie, as they talk about her hometown of Lagos in Nigeria, a place Reg is familiar with. Very educated and well-traveled, Reg is able to speak on many topics with ease, something Alister seems to be uncomfortable with. As Ginny raves to Alister about Reg’s book, hoping he will consider punishing it as she fears the secret about her husband will be revealed, she breaks down and admits everything to Alister and Millie who are both in shock. At this moment, Reg realizes that he has lost at his own game and with nothing to hold over Ginny, his threats to have the story printed in the papers is pointless. What does happen, in the end, is that Millie comes forward about her own assault and through their purging of stories we find out that Alister too is a victim. Millie urges the need for others to come forward and talk about their assault to help others heal, such a powerful scene.
I really enjoyed this play because it deals with so many issues that still need to be addressed openly, like sexual assault against men. We need to acknowledge that those in authority, especially at institutions where children are at their most vulnerable, like churches and schools, these predators whether professors or not need to be held accountable not protected. Race and privilege is another thing that many shove under the rug and pretend it isn’t real but was clearly presented in this play. This story was funny, sad, powerful and right on time. The cast just blew me away, I think they did such a great job with the characters. This is definitely one you must see.
“Reparations” recently performed at the Off-Broadway Billie Holiday Theatre In NYC
