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Enslaved Diaries Unearth Dark Family Secrets
3 Apr
Summary
- Two Black academics authenticate an enslaver's controversial diaries.
- The play blends humor with serious themes of historical legacy.
- Hidden truths about brutality and erased Black histories emerge.
Winsome Pinnock's drama at the Dorfman Theatre tackles the complex legacies of enslavement through a unique comedic lens. The play centers on two Black academics tasked with authenticating the diaries of an 18th-century enslaver.
Fen, a descendant of the enslaver, provides the academics access to the diaries that chronicle life on his Jamaican farm. Initially believed to be an abolitionist, the diaries reveal disturbing accounts of brutality, challenging historical narratives and uncovering erased Black histories.
The academic duo, Abi and Marva, share a dynamic akin to Holmes and Watson. Their investigation delves into the intersections of race and class, with Abi's privileged background and Marva's personal connection to the Harford family adding layers of intrigue.
While the plot features convenient twists reminiscent of mystery novels, the play's vibrant dialogue and humor make its exploration of soiled inheritance and racial appropriation enjoyable. The production uses a haunted house aesthetic to symbolize real hauntings, including references to colonial heritage and the violence towards an enslaved woman named "Black Sarah."
