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Signs play an important part in the episodic playThoughts of a Colored Man.
The play also takes placeona sign Robert Brills set is a gigantic billboard.
Every brightly illuminated choice emphasizes thatThoughts of a Colored Manhas been designed to be seen from far away.
Thoughtsis Scotts impressionistic portrait of Black manhood.
Scott is clearly drawn to monologue and poetic oration, but his greatest gifts lie in scripting complex interactions.
When his performers speak alone, they can seem flat or self-indulgent.
Its exhilarating to see the group as it undermines and convinces and mocks and comforts.
It feels, in these moments, as though you are actually watching thoughts at play.
Whats odd is that Joseph wrote it before March 2020, so its limitations were all self-imposed.
(If you know Josephs 2008Animals Out of Paper,some of Sureshs backstory will be familiar.)
But characters who speak into space can spiral very quickly.
Thoughts of a Colored Manis at the Golden Theatre.Letters of Sureshis at Second Stages Kiser Theater until October 24.
