Ed Rampell – Hollywood Progressive
In “Master Harold”…and the Boys, which was set in 1950 and written circa 1982 when apartheid was still enforced in South Africa, playwright Athol Fugard seems to have dramatized Frantz Fanon’s theories about the psychological impact of racism and colonialism on the human mind. Through action, dialogue and character, Fugard, who died last year at the age of 92, vividly brings to life Fanon’s notions of how oppression imbues people with a sensibility of humiliation, generates an inferiority complex, and stunts the full development of human potential and possibilities. Read more…
Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania
Geffen Playhouse’s piercing revival of Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold” … and the Boys proves that the 1982 play is still relevant, but a handful of elements translate uncomfortably for modern audiences. Despite two powerful performances by John Kani and Nyasha Hatendi, the three‑person drama stumbles because of Ben Beatty’s flat turn as the title character. Read more…
Anita W. Harris – LA Theatrix
Co-directed by Emily Mann, a champion of Fugard’s plays in the US, and Geffen artistic director Tarell Alvin McCraney, this superbly enacted production of “’Master Harold’…and the Boys” is otherwise executed with exquisite care — a fitting tribute to the playwright who passed away last year. Though apartheid officially ended decades ago, its racist principles have not, fostered by fear that begs to be tempered by love. Read more…