I went with some trepidation because reviews had said this evening of three parts could benefit from pruning. In fact I felt engaged throughout the unfolding story of the slave, Hero, deciding in Part 1 whether to go to the civil war with his master; taking part in the war in Part 2; and returning home in Part 3. A further six parts are apparently planned that will take us up to the present time. I would certainly be up to going to see those if they come to pass.
Essentially what I got out of the evening was first of all the story. It is one of Hero betraying his friend Homer in the hope of gaining his freedom (part 1); being paralysed by doubt of whether to desert his master's side in the civil war and join the Yankees (part 2); and betraying his wife Penny in part 3 when he declares he has married another woman while away. Admittedly, she had meantime been carrying on with and got pregnant by Homer.
But beyond the story was the debate about freedom and how that is (not surprisingly) such a fundamental requirement for many humans. As such, I made a clear connection between this work and the Belarus Free Theatre's Burning Doors. It also crept across my mind that this same urge for freedom at whatever cost is one of the motivations behind the Brexit vote. At the same time, Hero seemed also to be consumed by the need to have the relationship with his Master. He was almost afraid of freedom and the play seemed to invite a parallel between this relationship and the one between Hero and his loyal dog.
Overall, then, I found this an absorbing evening and the acting was incredible, earning thoroughly deserved applause.
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