The Guthrie is returning to playwright Pearl Cleage's repertoire* after producing the beautifully tragic
Blues for An Alabama Sky two years ago. Unlike that play, which was set in 1930s Harlem,
The Nacirema Society is actually set in Alabama, and there's no tragedy, only comedy, romance, and a whole lot of fun. Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement in 1964 Montgomery (there's a nice article in the program about the events of that "memorable year"),
The Nacirema Society is a multigenerational story of a wealthy and powerful Black family preparing for a debutante ball. The playwright summarizes it best (quoted in a program note from Artistic Director Joseph Haj): "Even in the midst of massive social upheaval and revolutionary change, people still found time to fall in and out of love, to keep the family secrets or spill the beans, and to embrace the great human chaos of their very specific lives." That feels very familiar and very human; with all the madness happening in the world right now, we still have to live our day to day lives and find joy wherever we can. And
The Nacirema Society, with a fantastic cast of Black women (plus one token guy) and stunning design, is one such source of joy.
See it on the Guthrie's thrust stage now through May 24.
