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Eugene and Alma are a black couple reminiscing on the trials and tribulations of growing up in 1960's South Carolina. They have have known each other from childhood and in later years their friendship has blossomed into love. But it has not been an easy road. The problem is that Eugene is pale skinned, a 'high yella', whilst Alma is dark skinned.
Eugene's friends think that Alma is not good enough for him, he should be looking for a woman with pale skin like his own. Even Alma, despite being pushed by her mother into pursuing her relationship with the pale skinned boy, doubts her own worth.
As a background to this Eugene has to contend with the bitterness of an oppressive father, a man with a king size chip on his shoulder who envies his son's paler skin (inherited from his mother) and resents the extra advantages in life it gives him. Alma on the other hand has had to contend with a life of poverty and a mother with too great a dependence on gin.
As the story progresses they seek to escape the problems of the past and plan a brighter future together.
Set in a time and place when racism was widespread this play focuses on the insanity of the opressed falling in with this culture by indulging in a kind of intra-racism amongst themselves. The title of the play is indeed taken from the derogatory taunts used by darker black children against their lighter coloured classmates in the playgrounds of American schools. The play largely centers around 'white envy'. The paler skinned more caucasian looking characters are envied whilst those with darker skins are seen (and see themselves) as ugly and inferior. Of course this idea is manifestly untrue and it tugs at one's social conscience to be made to understand that in a modern society any one group of people could be made to feel that way.
This was a cleverly produced play with a set representing the junk filled yard of a typical South Carolinan wood-built house. Overhead was a screen on which was projected a rolling cloudscape which added to the effect of hot steamy Carolina weather.
Anthony Ekundayo Lennon as Eugene and Andi Osho as Alma played their roles with great intensity. With just two players in the production, both were on stage throughout the entire uninterrupted one hour and fifty minutes running time. They play not only play their own characters but also their parents, grandparents, friends and enemies. Both acheive this with great success, although Anthony's portrayal of Eugene's domineering father was particularly impressive.
An intelligent and thought provoking play, but ultimately a little tedious for those whose tastes lean more toward action.