Still More Theater Saturday - Amerikin & Wine in the Wilderness

We received complimentary tickets to Amerikin for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Amerikin

Where: 59E59 Theatres

             59 E. 59 St.

            New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 16 and Up

When: Through April 13. 2025

Amerikin is Chisa Hutchinson's gut-punch of a show that, in fact, may be triggering to some people. The show revolves around a white man who, in delving into his family background to join a white supremacist organization, learns that he has black ancestry. Thus, he becomes a target of the very organization he was trying to join, and the only person willing to try to help him is a black journalist. 

This is a very well-written and well-acted show. It shines a harsh light on some important truths about how deep racism runs. It also deals with postpartum depression, suicide, and guns, which may also be triggering to some people. 

This is not an easy show, even for those not specifically triggered by its subject matter. Its darkness is not couched in humor or in other ways that would make it easier to swallow. It is not a show that enlightens or uplifts, but it exposes and horrifies.  The things that make it so hard to handle are the very things that make it so important and sadly necessary.

And that's our view. For more about Amerikin or to purchase tickets, visit www.primarystages.org/amerikin

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We received complimentary tickets to Wine in the Wilderness for review purposes. Parts of this post regarding the basic plot are taken from our post regarding a previous production. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Wine in the Wilderness

Where: Classic Stage Company

             136 E. 13th St.

              New York, NY 

Who: Recommended for Ages 14 and Up

When: Through April 13, 2025

In the middle of the riots raging through his city, artist Bill Jameson is only interested in finishing his triptych of three paintings representing black womanhood, The first is the innocent young girl, the second is the maternal Mother Africa, and the third and the only one he has yet to paint is down and out and hardened by life. In his mind, she is what society has made of Black women.

This is a show about stereotypes and how even people of the same race can have stereotypes about one another. While the performances are all good, Olivia Washington (daughter of Denzel) is particularly excellent in the role of Tommy, the woman Bill plans to use as the model for his third painting in the triptych. Her transformation from the bubbly, sparkly, happy personality she displays at first to the betrayal, anger, and sadness she displays after she learns the real reason Bill wanted to paint her is heartbreaking.

This production is part of the recent resurgence of the work of playwright Alice Childress. Childress, a playwright who focused on the black experience, was underappreciated in her time. However, her plays have remained as relevant today as they were then.

And that's our view. For more about Wine in the Wilderness or to purchase tickets, visit www.classicstage.org/wine-in-the-wilderness

Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credits:

All Amerkin production photos by James Leynse

All Wine in the Wilderness production photos by Marc J. Franklin

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image,  contact us here, and we will look into the matter.