Long-Running ‘The Diary of Black Men’
Comes To Toronto
Fans applause shows message about relationships
The phenomenon known as “The Diary of Black Men,” a play that has been touring since 1983 is coming to the Sony Centre on Friday June 20th, and Saturday June 21st. If history is any guide, the show will play to sell-out crowds. The longest touring and most successful stage play in black theatre history will set its mark in Toronto.
They were spellbound in New York. Emotions ran high in Chicago. The audience begged for more in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. The acting is raw and powerful! There will be tears, laughter, anger, and joy.
The radio promo for “The Diary of Black Men” features a sexy male voice provocatively asking; “How do you love a black woman?” That question undoubtedly stops a lot of people in their tracks. They hadn’t heard that question asked before and thought, “Boy, that’s deep.” This may be what’s been packing them in theatres across the U.S. and the U.K. since 1983 where box office records have been smashed. The play actually answers the question through a series of vignettes and scenarios examining the relationships between black men and women using six male stereotypes: a slick cool dude, a blue collar working class man, a militant, a middle-class urban professional and intellect, a black Muslim, and a player.
The show is a revolutionary work of art and delivers in high theatrical style. It opens with the men perched upon pedestals like gods upon Mount Olympus, or, to be more exact, like African archetypes upon Kilimanjaro (The Mountains of the Moon in East Africa). They all, being true to their stereotype and character, offer their pitch to impress upon the lone female character in the play, their own particular brand of manliness and why it is superior to someone else’s. They each try to convince black women that they are what women want. The Muslim for instance, offers protection, but with it goes submission. “Come my sister,” he says soothingly. “Learn your place as my wife.” The Muslim insists Islam is what women need so that they won’t be freak sex objects. The Player, a glib smooth operator in black leather pants and shirt, claims “I am the best thing for you, baby.” The simple Working Man boasts that he supports his family, doesn’t run around, and, in fact, doesn’t do ANYTHING except work. The Militant says he is not the problem but the solution. The Professional Man says he has the three main ingredients any black woman seeks in a man: education, intelligence, and a solid bank account. The slick cool dude promises a better way of life brimmed with excitement and romance. The plays’ one female character represents black women but has no speaking part in the production.
It’s a morality play laced with comedy, and a lot of talk about manhood, cash-tration of black manhood, and suppression of black manhood. The acting is high quality and the production is extremely professional. The Diary of Black Men is highly entertaining, full of energy and seductively scored.
