“The America Play” is a play written by Suzan-Lori Parks, first performed in 1994. Set against the backdrop of American history, the play explores themes of identity, race, and the legacy of slavery in the United States.
During the early 1990s, America was grappling with issues of racial inequality and social injustice. The aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement and the ongoing struggle for equality for marginalized communities sparked a renewed interest in exploring the complexities of race and identity in American society.
Against this backdrop, Suzan-Lori Parks crafted “The America Play” as a thought-provoking exploration of the nation’s history and its impact on individual lives. Through its vivid characters and powerful storytelling, the play challenges audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about America’s past and present.
Key Facts:
- The Foundling Father: The central character of the play, the Foundling Father, is a black gravedigger who bears a striking resemblance to Abraham Lincoln. Obsessed with the legacy of the 16th president, the Foundling Father creates a bizarre reenactment of Lincoln’s assassination, in which audience members pay to play the role of John Wilkes Booth.
- The Great Hole of History: The Foundling Father spends his days digging a massive hole in the ground, symbolizing America’s troubled past and the collective amnesia that surrounds it. The hole becomes a metaphor for the buried truths and forgotten stories of the nation’s history, as well as the emptiness and longing that accompany the search for identity and belonging.
- The Shot: One of the most powerful moments in the play occurs when an audience member, playing the role of John Wilkes Booth, fires the fatal shot that supposedly kills the Foundling Father. This climactic moment forces the characters and the audience to confront the harsh realities of violence, oppression, and the legacy of slavery in America.
- The Family: Throughout the play, the Foundling Father’s wife and son serve as symbols of his desire for connection and belonging. However, their relationships are strained by his obsession with Lincoln and his inability to fully confront his own identity and legacy.
Major Characters:
- The Foundling Father: A black gravedigger who bears a striking resemblance to Abraham Lincoln, the Foundling Father is consumed by his obsession with the 16th president and his desire to make a name for himself in American history. His search for identity and belonging leads him on a journey of self-discovery and self-destruction.
- The Foundling Father’s Wife: The wife of the Foundling Father, she struggles to understand her husband’s obsession with Lincoln and his refusal to fully engage with his own identity and heritage. Despite her love for him, she is ultimately unable to save him from his own demons.
- The Foundling Father’s Son: A young boy who idolizes his father and dreams of following in his footsteps, the Foundling Father’s son represents the next generation’s struggle to come to terms with the legacy of slavery and the complexities of American identity.
Minor Character:
- The Audience Members: Throughout the play, various audience members are invited to participate in the reenactment of Lincoln’s assassination, playing the roles of John Wilkes Booth and other historical figures. These characters serve as a reflection of the broader society’s complicity in perpetuating America’s troubled history and its legacy of violence and oppression.
As “The America Play” unfolds, Suzan-Lori Parks challenges audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about America’s past and present, urging them to grapple with the complexities of race, identity, and the legacy of slavery in the United States. Through its powerful storytelling and thought-provoking themes, the play continues to resonate with audiences and spark important conversations about the nation’s history and its impact on individual lives.