She has the ability to present the entire spectrum of the human condition almost instantaneously. Parks has become well known for these historic reinterpretations, and rightfully so.

Suzan Lori-Parks’ distinctive wit and rhetoric soar spectacularly in this reimagining of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Instead, they manipulate and abuse her through promises of money and love. From streetwalkers to social workers, these adults do not aid or feed her children. Hester’s children do not remain children for long, however, as all of them double as the adults in Hester’s life. Jones are particular standouts in their ability to fully embody the physicality and prattle of children with authenticity and humor. Although it takes some time to adjust to this spectacle of adults in clownish young clothing, their ages fall away as they argue and play on the steep slope of their bridge ramp home. They are shocking because they are played by five adult actors, many of whom are older than Hester. The appearance of Hester’s five children (from five different fathers) is jarring, and not just because they are developmentally disabled. Hester’s manic children are not distressed by the falling trash they are delighted with it! Bits and pieces of waste make up their clothes, their toys and even their meager income of discarded soda cans. Although it has been nearly two decades since the debut of In the Blood, the play has lost none of its relevance or bite. Their vocal barbs assume the form of physical waste, which descends noisily from a garbage chute onto Hester’s home, an abandoned lower ramp beneath a bridge. Their insults rain down upon Hester and her child with no sign of waning, and in fact this relentless toxicity never truly abates. This is Suzan Lori-Parks, and the 'A' stands for her annihilation of apathy.Ĭruelty and disdain drip from a modern Greek chorus as they surround and condemn Hester (Saycon Sengbloh), a young homeless woman delicately caring for her newborn babe. Photo by Joan Marcus.īOTTOM LINE: This is not the Scarlet Letter you remember from your tenth-grade summer reading. Jones, Frank Wood, Jocelyn Bioh, Saycon Sengbloh and Michael Braun in In the Blood.

By Suzan Lori-Parks Directed by Sarah BensonĪna Reeder, Russell G.

In the blood suzan lori parks analysis