"Drama Exploration: Amerikin - Delving into Identity, Race, Empathy, Self-Deception, and the Untruths We Embrace"
Ain't nobody gonna tell us how to live, huh? That's what you get from reading one of Joan Didion's essays. And sometimes, that narrative leads us down some dark paths. That's exactly what you'll find in Chisa Hutchinson's thought-provoking play, Amerikin.
Set in Sharpsburg, a small rural town in Maryland, our hero, Jeff Browning, is ready to achieve greatness. How? By joining the local white supremacist group, guided by his buddy, Dylan. But things go south when an ancestry test delivers an unexpected twist in Jeff's DNA story. Directed by Jade King Carroll, this Primary Stages production pulls some stunning twists and turns that'll leave you on the edge of your seat. After all, empathy and humor only go so far when dealing with the fragility of supremacy, according to Hutchinson.
Carroll describes Amerikin as "a gripping family and social drama that delves into racism, social issues, and the lengths we'll go to protect our families and find a sense of belonging."She also points out that the play confronts the destructive impact of hatred in our society, pushing people to their breaking points. Would you believe these characters are brought to life by an iconic ensemble of talented actors, such as Daniel Abeles, Molly Carden, Luke Robertson, Tobias Segal, Andrea Syglowski, Amber Reauchean Williams, and Victor Williams?
Now playing at 59E59 Theaters as part of their Amplify Festival, which honors Hutchinson by featuring three of her plays this season, the timing couldn't be more relevant. When asked how theater can help people heal during turbulent times, Hutchinson reflects that she feels like she's chipping away at a mountain with a toothpick. But then again, she's got words, empathy, and the human spirit to keep fighting.
Hutchinson hopes that after seeing Amerikin, people start questioning their own biases and place on the spectrum of bigotry, and even look at outsiders with a fresh perspective. "I hope the play blurs the line between 'us' and 'them' for folks. And that they just try to take everyone's humanity for granted," she says. "That's the only way we're gonna survive as a species—if more of us can empathize than not."
Fun fact: Did you know that Hutchinson became fascinated with Sharpsburg after noticing Trump signs and Confederate flags while driving through it? She even went down some deep YouTube rabbit holes studying its dialect and even learned that two people responded "Kill all Blacks" in a survey about what they call "soda." Queasy, isn't it? That's the risk you take when you dive headfirst into humanity's dark corners. But it's a risk worth taking, as Amerikin showcases.
Now, grab a ticket to 59E59 Theaters and prepare yourself for a wild ride into the heart of American racism and self-identity. Just make sure to put on your seatbelt before you board this emotional rollercoaster. And remember, empathy is the only way to move forward. Stupid, immoral, and violent actions be damned.
In the thought-provoking play, Amerikin, written by Chisa Hutchinson, the character Jeff Browning, an Amerikin, is portrayed by an ensemble of talented actors, including Daniel Abeles.
The storyteller, Chisa Hutchinson, drew inspiration for Amerikin from her encounters with divisive signs and symbols while driving through Sharpsburg.
Amerikin is a gripping family and social drama that delves into racism, social issues, and the lengths people will go to protect their families and find a sense of belonging, as described by its director, Jade King Carroll.
