Dutchman (play)
Encyclopedia
Dutchman is a play written by African-American playwright Amiri Baraka
. It played at the Cherry Lane Theatre
in Greenwich Village, New York in March 1964 and won an Obie Award
. http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/baraka.htm Made into a film in 1967
, Dutchman was the last play produced by Baraka under his birth name, LeRoi Jones. At the time, Jones/Baraka was in the process of divorcing his white Jewish wife and embracing Black Nationalism
. The play may be described as a political allegory depicting black/white relations during the time Baraka wrote it.
The play was recently revived in 2007 at the Cherry Lane Theatre starring Dulé Hill
.
Lula then begins to insult Clay, implying that somehow he is not "really" black because he is college educated, wears a three button suit and because his "grandfather was not a slave". She is now dancing in the train and ridicules Clay by asking him to join her and "do the nasty. Rub bellies". Clay, who initially does not respond to the provocation, rises up in extreme anger, menacing the other riders, telling Lula that she knew nothing about him, referring to her and other white people as "ofays". Forcing her on her seat next to him he slaps her twice and tells her that the neuroses of black men can be cured with her murder. He asks his leave and expresses his pity that it wouldn’t work out between them. As he bends over to pick up his books, Lula stabs him into his chest in full view of the other (both white and black) riders who do nothing to stop the attack. She then instructs everyone else to help her throw his body out of the train and get off the subway at the next stop.
The play ends on a chilling note; Lula approaches another well-dressed black man in exactly the same way that she approached Clay. As the train conductor enters the compartment, dancing “soft-shoe”, Lula watches his movements.
Amiri Baraka
Amiri Baraka , formerly known as LeRoi Jones, is an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays, and music criticism...
. It played at the Cherry Lane Theatre
Cherry Lane Theatre
The Cherry Lane Theatre , located at 38 Commerce Street in the borough of Manhattan, was New York City's oldest, continuously running off-Broadway theater...
in Greenwich Village, New York in March 1964 and won an Obie Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
. http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/baraka.htm Made into a film in 1967
Dutchman (film)
Dutchman is a 1967 British drama film directed by Anthony Harvey and starring Shirley Knight and Al Freeman, Jr. It was based on the play Dutchman by Amiri Baraka....
, Dutchman was the last play produced by Baraka under his birth name, LeRoi Jones. At the time, Jones/Baraka was in the process of divorcing his white Jewish wife and embracing Black Nationalism
Black nationalism
Black nationalism advocates a racial definition of indigenous national identity, as opposed to multiculturalism. There are different indigenous nationalist philosophies but the principles of all African nationalist ideologies are unity, and self-determination or independence from European society...
. The play may be described as a political allegory depicting black/white relations during the time Baraka wrote it.
The play was recently revived in 2007 at the Cherry Lane Theatre starring Dulé Hill
Dulé Hill
Karim Dulé Hill is an American actor and tap dancer. He is best known for his roles as personal presidential aide Charlie Young on the NBC drama television series The West Wing, and as pharmaceutical salesman-private detective Burton "Gus" Guster on the USA Network television comedy-drama Psych...
.
Plot
The action focuses almost exclusively on Lula, a flirtatious white woman, and Clay, a young black man who rides the subway in New York City. Clay's name evokes symbolism that highlights the malleability of identity. In this case, identity likely relates to questions of manhood. Connotations of 'Clay' might also allude to the playwright's critique of the young male as an integrationist or assimilationist. Lula boards the train munching an apple, an allusion to the Biblical Eve. After Lula bends over in front of Clay in an obvious sexual come-on, the two characters engage in a flirtatious conversation throughout the long train ride.Lula then begins to insult Clay, implying that somehow he is not "really" black because he is college educated, wears a three button suit and because his "grandfather was not a slave". She is now dancing in the train and ridicules Clay by asking him to join her and "do the nasty. Rub bellies". Clay, who initially does not respond to the provocation, rises up in extreme anger, menacing the other riders, telling Lula that she knew nothing about him, referring to her and other white people as "ofays". Forcing her on her seat next to him he slaps her twice and tells her that the neuroses of black men can be cured with her murder. He asks his leave and expresses his pity that it wouldn’t work out between them. As he bends over to pick up his books, Lula stabs him into his chest in full view of the other (both white and black) riders who do nothing to stop the attack. She then instructs everyone else to help her throw his body out of the train and get off the subway at the next stop.
The play ends on a chilling note; Lula approaches another well-dressed black man in exactly the same way that she approached Clay. As the train conductor enters the compartment, dancing “soft-shoe”, Lula watches his movements.