THE HANGOVER REPORT – Donja R. Love’s moving new play SUGAR IN OUR WOUNDS is as unexpected as the tragic love story at its core

The company of Donja R. Love's "Sugar in Our Wounds" at New York City Center, courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club.

The company of Donja R. Love’s “Sugar in Our Wounds” at New York City Center, courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club.

Today, I caught a matinee performance of Donja R. Love’s new play Sugar in Our Wounds at New York City Center, courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club. I hadn’t been familiar with Mr. Love’s work, but I’m happy to report that I was stirred and impressed – admittedly unexpectedly – by what I experienced this afternoon. Set on a plantation in the deep South at the end of the Civil War, Sugar in Our Wounds tells the tragic story of a budding gay relationship between two slaves; particularly topical, given last weekend’s Pride festivities.

Against some considerable odds (the play had the potential to be painfully melodramatic), the play works mostly beautifully. This isn’t to say the piece is devoid of melodrama; in fact, there’s quite a bit of it. However, if the play’s central emotions ring true, as it does here, the histrionics can actually contribute to the texture of the piece. Additionally, the play convincingly transported me to a world where every day is a precarious balancing act and happiness is fickle. And although I thought the play’s heavy use of magic realism veered dangerously close to cliché-land, I found Mr. Love’s characters so sharply and lovingly drawn that the play ultimately moved me immensely and swept me up in its forceful emotional currents.

The Manhattan Theatre Club production – visually dominated by a massive tree (the striking scenic design is by Arnulfo Maldonado) – was effectively directed by Saheem Ali. His work is atmospheric and fluid, keeping in line with the play’s pungent, almost hallucinatory quality. The exceptional company – comprised of Stephanie Berry, Sheldon Best, Fern Cozine, Tiffany Rachelle Stewart, and Chinaza Uche – not infrequently had me in awe (and close to tears) with the raw intensity of their work. Sugar in Our Wounds is allegedly the first of a trilogy of plays. After such a strong start, I’m now quite eager to see how Mr. Love’s larger story will unfold.

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SUGAR IN OUR WOUNDS
Off-Broadway, Play
Manhattan Theatre Club at New York City Center
1 hour, 45 minutes (without an intermission)
Through July  15

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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