Lost Promise: Chadwick Boseman's Poetic Stage Work

Chadwick Boseman's 2005 play, presented at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, showcases the late actor's multifaceted talents as a writer. The work is a music-filled narrative centering on a Black woman, Azure, grieving her fiancé, Deep, a victim of police violence.

Inspired by a real-life tragedy, the play intertwines contemporary issues of police brutality in the US with Shakespearean motifs of jealousy, injustice, and revenge. It powerfully depicts Azure's struggle with an eating disorder amidst her grief and the responses of Deep's friends.

The production is a vibrant fusion of hip-hop, song, and verse, featuring Shakespearean lyricism and direct references to his poetry. The central plot mirrors Hamlet's arc concerning vengeance for an unjust death.

Boseman's narrative is experimental, employing a non-linear structure that shifts between modern America and historical settings. This ambitious approach, while sometimes abstruse, ultimately coalesces into a cohesive and poetic experience.

Directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu, the ensemble cast delivers a dynamic performance, incorporating beatboxing, rapping, and singing. Their fluid transformations and theatricality add to the play's intricate, puzzle-like quality.

Despite moments where the narrative may seem arcane, the second half offers a smoother, more coherent resolution. The play's non-naturalistic approach is intentional, packed with ideas and a surrender to its unique, poetic logic.