This play was originally performed at the Public Theater in New York City in 1982. This video of the play shows the history and struggles of African American women in America. Being brought over here to be slaves for then white America to become slaved and to nanny their children. This play shows the struggles and stories of the women through song, dance, and poetry, but never looses the vision of which all is most important love. .
There are seven women in the cast, including Alfre Woodard, Lynn Whitfield, and Ntzoke Shange who is the plays author. The play is simply a series of monologues, which intends to show how the woman struggles to find a place in a man's world. Shange's language in the play was widely expressed in the play. She dynamically speaks about her experiences using colorful, unabashed honesty. I could relate to her boyfriend troubles, because she spoke in realism.
This play was not designed to evoke standard Shakespearian style, rather it was more like watching a toned down version of "The Jerry Springer Show", except you never get to see who they are actually talking about. Overall the play despite its heavy connotations about the black woman's struggle for her rights, it was not too much. By adding comedy, and a sort of lighthearted approach to the play, I felt that this play could almost start a new genre of play series.
