Black Lives Matter: 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' opens on Broadway

"Thoughts of a Colored Man" just opened, and it has already made history.

It is the first Broadway show ever, representatives say, to star, be written by, be directed by and be lead-produced by Black artists.

At a recent showing, the audience was loving this work by Keenan Scott II. There was laughter and clapping — and real interaction. It was a bit like going to church, when the pastor says something and the congregation nods and shouts approval. That connection grew throughout the almost two-hour show (there is no intermission).

Directed by Steve Broadnax III, "Thoughts" is a blend of traditional theater, spoken word and slam poetry. In various vignettes, there's humor and joy, anger, fear and some deep conversation about racism and homophobia.

Does it work? Not always. Is it even a play? Not really. 

But does that matter? 

The show takes place in Brooklyn: in a barbershop, on a basketball court, outside a Whole Foods, in a hospital and on the street. Each of the seven actors — Emmy Award-winner Dyllón Burnside, Bryan Terrell Clark, Da’Vinchi, Grammy Award nominee Luke James, Tony Award nominee Forrest McClendon, Grammy Award nominee Tristan Mack Wilds and Esau Pritchett — has at least one memorable moment.

All of them play characters defined by feelings, emotions or aspects of their personality.

James, identified as Passion in the Playbill, sings a few times — and his beautiful voice may remind some of Leslie Odom Jr. He shines as a soon-to-be father. One only wishes he was on stage more.

Clark, identified as Happiness, plays a man in a same-sex relationship. He has a good life — and while he may not be rich he is certainly comfortable. There's a scene in the barbershop where the other guys are talking about women and he does not reveal his sexuality. Most gay men will relate to that moment when it feels safer to hide the truth.

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Da'Vinchi and Burnside share a few scenes together. It's nice to see the friendship between their characters, described in the Playbill as Lust and Love. No doubt Da'Vinchi's character comes across as more immature and frustrated, but he is also playful and fun. Burnside is not as effective on his own, and his spoken-word poetry doesn't help. 

Pritchett, whose character runs the barbershop, is appropriately identified as Wisdom. His scene with Da'Vinchi, who comes to apologize after using a homophobic slur, stands out. Pritchett's character has seen a lot of changes in the neighborhood, and one gets the sense that he has changed with the times. He makes it clear that everyone is welcome at his shop.

Wilds is identified as Anger. He had to give up a potential basketball career after an injury. Throughout the show, he wears a brace on his leg — a reminder of a dream lost. He makes up for it by teaching basketball, but he gets annoyed when the kids can't do what he could.  

McClendon is Depression. He is a bit quirky in his speech and mannerisms, but likable. You just want to give him a hug. At the start of the show, one expects him to serve as a narrator, but he's another one who is not on stage as much as the others. 

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On a screen throughout the show is the word "Colored." Society has an impression of what a Black man is, but Scott seems to be saying "We are all individuals. Don't put us into one little box. Let us be who we are."

The set by Robert Brill allows the focus to stay on the actors. Projection design by Sven Ortel makes it easy for the audience to see where scenes take place. 

Scott is making his Broadway debut with this work, and one senses he has a lot more to say. Will that be a more traditional play? Something even more experimental? He is working on a musical, "The Return of Young Boy," currently being developed with New York Stage & Film.

And more diverse voices are coming, later this season and in years to come. They may not all be hits, they may not all be good, but they will no doubt be seen and heard. 

And that matters.

Tickets for "Thoughts of a Colored Man," playing at the John Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., are available through March 2022. Visit www.thoughtsofacoloredman.com for more information.

Bill Canacci can be reached at bcanacci@gannettnj.com.