FringeNYC Previews

beast: a parable

Produced by three monos ensemble

Author: J. Julian Christopher

In a time when the United States may elect its first African American President, the news is littered with stories of nooses and swastikas.  Events making headlines such as the Jena Six, genocide in Darfur, no justice for Sean Bell, and the Don Imus "scandal," provide evidence that the "issue of race" and the prejudices and stereotypes we all have internalized that we view as "normal" continue to surround us.  Though we are bombarded with stories concerning race on a daily basis, it is rare to find any real discussion interested in actual tactics that may bring about change.

Irresponsible rhetoric by talking heads looking for ratings, or due to the concept of being "politically correct," the issue of race gets watered down for fear of being labeled prejudice or a racist.   By discussing the shadow the entity casts, instead of the entity itself; nothing substantial can be accomplished.  Beast: A Parable gives the entity flesh and blood; and while that may be uncomfortable it is a notion we all can recognize.  No substantial change was ever made in comfort.

Audiences can expect to see these entities poked and examined as a cautionary tale of how our own preconceived ideas of race can alienate us from even those that we love.

J. Julian Christopher, playwright/director