It is bookended by scenes showing two young ex-cons confronting their parole officer, but the bulk of the action is set eight years earlier, in the year 2000, in a downtown bar where women workers from the local factory hang out. You dont want to go down that road, weve got too much history between us. They both work at the factory and worry that they will be laid off. Im cool with everyone. CYNTHIA: I didnt expect you to understand, babe. Order original paper now and save your time! She is on and off with her husband, Brucie, who is addicted to drugs. I got eyes. The play takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania where there is one main line of work everyone goes into. Im not prejudice, but thats how things are going these days. Tensions between friends come to a head when Olsteads begins making changes and floor workers face the threat (and, eventually, the reality) of a lockoutand the newly promoted Cynthia comes to be seen as a traitor. Thus, these essays are of lower quality than ones written by experts. TRACEY: [] I know the floor as good as Cynthia. Cmon. Oscar, the bus boy at the bar, is Latino and is not acknowledged often by the people who go there. Jason, in particular, is notably altered by his time in prison, where he becomes a white supremacist. Well, my familys been here a long time. you can use them for inspiration and simplify your student life. (including. Do you know what its like, she asks, to get up and have no place to go? For the equally tough Cynthia, work is a means of advancement and her union card is a symbol of racial acceptance. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. This is shown in many of the bar scenes. One of the major plot points in this ensemble driven piece is Cynthias promotion to management at Olsteads factory. The BMCC Theatre Department invites you to enjoy the performance of SWEAT by Lynn Nottage, directed by Diane Dowling. After what went down. JASON: [] But seriously, man, why didnt you tell me? There are other minor characters in the plot of the play. In 2000, we meet best friends Tracey, Cynthia, and Jessie. They are getting out of jail after a conflict they were both involved in. More heat. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. They get tax breaks or something. "[9], The play's political context has also been noted. What Nottage captures brilliantly is the way work, however hard or demanding, gives people an identity and purpose. The Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts will present Lynn Nottages award-winning Sweat for eight performances, opening on Nov. 9 in Squires Studio Theatre. Tensions rise as Cynthias new position pits her against her friends. ', 'Come From Away', and 'Anastasia' Lead 2017 Drama Desk Award Nominations", "2017 Tony Award Nominations: 'The Great Comet' and 'Hello, Dolly!' To cover up how hurt he is, Jason mocks Chris and tells him hell never succeed in such a low-paying career before asking, But seriously, man, why didn't you tell me? Despite Jasons tough exterior, its clear that hes genuinely upset by Chriss attempts to leave their shared lot in life behind and pursue higher education. Stan is severely injured, and the youths are arrested, convicted, and incarcerated. Jump-start your essay with our outlining tool to make sure you have all the main points of your essay covered. Nottage has said that she was particularly influenced by a New York Times article reporting on the city specifically, and by the Occupy Wall Street movement more generally. But the sense of pride they've had over their work is being stripped away as the company begins to disassemble. The 2008 sequences also shine a spotlight on Chris and Jason's mysterious crime without revealing that incident until the end, leaving the audience waiting for the other shoe to drop instead of being able to focus on the complex relationships Nottage builds and the reflection of America in civil strife. Moving up the corporate ladder results in a loss of friendships and social exclusion. After the lockout goes forward, Cynthias friendship with Tracey completely disintegratesand when the play jumps forward from 2000 to 2008, its revealed that theyve never reconciled. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), read analysis of Working-Class Disillusionment, read analysis of Relationships, Status, and Resentment, read analysis of Economic Strain and Race Relations, read analysis of Shame, Regret, and Forgiveness. Directed by Kate Whoriskey (who also directed the earlier productions), the cast featured Carlo Alban (Oscar), James Colby (Stan), Khris Davis (Chris), Johanna Day (Tracey), John Earl Jelks (Brucie), Will Pullen (Jason), Miriam Shor (Jessie), Lance Coadie Williams (Evan), and Michelle Wilson (Cynthia). Be angry, but dont make it about this(Points to the skin on the back of her hand) Look at me, Tracey. Human Development News|Languages and Literatures News|Philosophy News|Political Science News [7][11], After starting previews on October 18, 2016, Sweat opened Off-Broadway at The Public Theater on November 3, 2016. There are a group of friends that work for the steel factory. CYNTHIA: [] You know after everything. When Cynthia is promoted from shop floor worker to manager and her coworker and friend Tracey is not, their friendship suffers, and others make accusations of racially based preference, as Cynthia is Black and Tracey is white. Call me selfish, I dont care, call me whatever you need to call me, but remember, one of us has to be left standing to fight. Source: www.asolorep.org. Unfortunately, that kinetic energy is all on one level, high, so the audience feels distanced from the characters. [15] A five-star review of the production by Peter Mason in the Morning Star newspaper described Sweat as "a tension-filled drama with a turbulent, consuming plot and a cast of highly engaging characters who demand attention from the off," adding of the Donmar cast that "it would be difficult to imagine a better set of players to take on the difficult task of portraying such complex individuals". Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Pietz portrays Jessie as a lonely woman hiding in a glass of alcohol. Instant PDF downloads. Lynn Nottage began working on the play in 2011 by interviewing numerous residents of Reading, Pennsylvania, which at the time was, according to the United States Census Bureau, officially one of the poorest cities in America,[3] with a poverty rate of over 40%. One of the major plot points in this ensemble driven piece is Cynthia's promotion to management at Olstead's factory. You're making the same sorry excuses that they do. Struggling with distance learning? Carroll, in his few scenes as the parole officer, conveys the father figure both boys need to rehabilitate. Jump-start your essay with our outlining tool to make sure you have all the main points of your essay covered. Scene 1 of Act 2 shows Jason and Chris returning to visit their mothers. I cant think of any recent play that tells us so much, and so vividly, about the state of the union. eNotes Editorial. But when characters begin to distance themselves from the status quo and pursue different opportunities, these relationships gradually disintegrate as those left behind feel resentful of their friends new paths. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance She cannot stand the way Reading has been changing over the years. What statements does this play Sweatmake about racism and racial tension in the United States? Try it today! They also work at the plant, although Chris talks about going to college. The amount of original essays that we did for our clients, The amount of original essays that we did for our clients. Tracey and Jessie grow bitter as their job security is threatened and their wages cut, while their friend Cynthia receives a promotion. Two hostile men sit in separate rooms with the same parole officer after being released from an eight-year prison sentence. New York, NY 10007 Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought, Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management, Department of Human Development and Family Science, Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, Department of Science, Technology, and Society, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for European Union, Transatlantic, and Trans-European Space Studies, Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies, Kellogg Center for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, News Stories on International Initiatives, Sweat explores themes of race, gender, ethnicity, class, and labor relations in a deeply human way, Winning words: Cara Daggett, Thomas Gardner, and Madeline Eberhardt honored with Phi Beta Kappa awards, William Price honored with emeritus status, A career and technical education alumnus reflects on his experiences in the School of Education, School of Education doctoral student receives prestigious internship, The Virginia Tech chapter of Omicron Tau Theta initiates eight new members, Heidi Anne Mesmer helps teachers decode reading instruction, Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech supports students with disabilities across the region, School of Communication senior awarded inaugural Tech Sideline Endowed Scholarship, Cybersecurity expert offers safety tips for online holiday shopping, A new map reconstructs the social landscapes of Southwest Virginia prior to European arrival, Alumni Industry Leader Spotlight: Sofiat Abdulrazaaq, Nobelist Karen OBrien delivers lecture about climate change and society, Alumnus Kevin Roberts named next president of the Heritage Foundation, Tokyo Olympics a once-in-a-lifetime experience for School of Communication alumna, Michael Hughes honored with emeritus status, Researchers reflections offer insights on collaboration, Cadet chosen to highlight the colors at the Virginia game, Ending programs for gifted students wont create equity for rural youth, https://www.youtube.com/embed/YcReO9WfWeQ, Lights, gingerbread, eggnog some holiday sights and tastes have global roots, Virginia Tech School of Education nurtures STEM potential in the Mississippi Delta, Student-athletes excel on and off the court. Ive absorbed a lotta shit over the years, but I worked hard to get off that floor. Whether its the discussion that Oscar doesnt deserve a job or him being attacked, they are all just as equally painful and wrong. Reading, Pennsylvania is an industrial town with an emphasis on blue collar jobs. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Background. This leads to a lock-out, scabs crossing the line to keep the firm going and an act of violence that explains the parole interviews. TRACEY: Well, I got you beat by two. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. We dont really. Youve always been cool. Seeing the effects of job loss and the economic struggle these people were facing first hand is what truly inspired her work for the play Sweat. Oscar asks Tracey about job openings on the floor, and Tracey says he must have heard wrong because Olsteads is not hiring and you have to know someone to get in anyway. She has created exactly the ensemble piece she set out to create empathetic, searching, searing, honest, and full of humanity and I found exactly the same qualities in this cast as we have worked together. Ive taken orders from idiots who were dangerous, or even worse, racist. To combat this constant strain and underappreciation, the members of Readings working-class community depend upon tight-knit relationships with one another as a means of stress relief, support, and fulfillment. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Centered on the working class of Reading, Pennsylvania, Sweat tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets, and laughs while working together on the factory floor. Stan, a middle-aged white man with a limp, bartends, and when the two women invite him to dance with them, he refuses. Tracey and Jessie view Cynthia as a traitor. This kind of intimate friendship seems to be the norm rather than the exception in Reading: Traceys son Jason and Cynthias son Chris are also best friends who work at Olsteads and who depend on each other for solidarity and camaraderie. Thats all I need to know. I hope that they will ask really tough conversations, not just of themselves but of the legislators and the people who are in power, she said. Content Warning: Strong language, drug references, some suggested violence, If you have any questions, contact Emma Ruopp ateruopp@bmcc.cuny.edu, Borough of Manhattan Community College Nottage shifts in time, switching scenes and showing events of eight years earlier. The playwright shows how owners manipulate individual efforts to advance in order to destroy solidarity and instead foster suspicions, mistrust, and rifts between friends. The second date is today's 100% plagiarism free, Orders: 7 Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original 199 Chambers Street Sweat - Lynn Nottage 2016-12-13 A hard-hitting new drama from the Pulitzer Prize-winning . As the months of 2000 pass, the relationships that create the foundation of Sweat begin to unravel and we come to see the events that led Chris and Jason, two best buds with exuberance for their future, to wind up in prison. Superlatively acted Leanne Best, Martha Plimpton and Clare Perkins in Sweat at Donmar Warehouse, London. She . Free shipping for many products! However, Sweats cast of characters is anything but empowered: rather than resist the hand theyve been dealt, they, The characters in Sweat have spent decades of their lives thanklessly laboring in Reading Pennsylvanias local steel and textile mills amid poor working conditions, disrespectful management, and union disputes. Word Count: 524. Characters are saddened and enraged in the face of wage cuts, and conflicts erupt between them as they struggle to navigate their lives in the face of diminishing opportunities. Oscar shows her a flyer from the community center, written in Spanish, that mentions the openings and says nothing about needing to be in the union. [1] It won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. As mentioned earlier , when Nottage does use aspects of spectacle , it emphasizes these themes further , aspects like lighting . From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Directions Management's physical, intellectual, and emotional removal from workers on the factory floor allows them to ultimately outsource their jobs to Mexico (because they have so little connection to the labor that goes into these jobs, or to the human beings working them). The bartender is Stan, who used to work at the factory with them until he suffered an injury. I wanna say that. Based on extensive interviews with residents of the rustbelt town of Reading, Pennsylvania, it shows the anger and despair that helped fuel the election of Donald Trump. Registered About 3 Years Ago. eNotes.com The ramifications of humanity's anger hangs over the play, yet Nottage hints at the power of forgiveness and redemption. They built this town. When backed up against the wall and left with neither income nor hope, people sink into racism almost by reflex. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contactSusan Sanders prior to the event. Most of the play takes place in a local bar, where friends like Tracey, Cynthia, and Jessie (a trio of middle-aged women whove all worked at Olsteads Steel Tubing plant for decades) gather to socialize with one another and with the beloved bartender, Stan. Sweat is about the private toll of this great decline. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Im on your side, Cynthia tells them, but Tracey challenges her: Then act like it, she says. publication online or last modification online. As Warehouse Supervisor, Cynthia has a newfound insiders perspective into the management side of the plant. Club members can see a different show every night of the week. All university community members and visitors will need to display a parking permit, use theParkMobile app,pay a fee, or pay using an hourly meter to park on the Blacksburg campus unless otherwise noted by signage. The. Sweat by Lynn Nottage Directed by Matt J. Bannister TICKETS: www.ssstage.org November 1 - 23, 2019 Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm Matinees: November 10 and 17 @ 2pm A play in a bar like none other. Found a perfect sample but need a unique one? You can order a custom paper by our expert writers. grounds " Sweat " , emphasizing it 's the everyday - nature of the plays themes . Working with this diverse cast of student actors to climb inside this story has been a gift. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Sweat [TCG Edition] Good Book 0 paperback at the best online prices at eBay! The play, however, takes place pre-Trump. Lynn Nottage, originally born and raised in Brooklyn, New York produced the award-winning play, Sweat. The employees work lives and decisions about organizing likewise affect their children. o Nottage, Lynn. The collection contains chapters on each of her major works . Variety described Nottage as going into "the heart of working-class America". Personally, this part of the play resonated with my feelings towards the racial violence we experience today. Oscar, the busboy at a bar, is viewed as a traitor when he begins working at the factory the friends and their union are protesting. Saturday-Sunday February 25 & 26 at 2pm . The discrimination towards Oscar and others throughout the play stuck out to me because it is hard to see people who work so hard get torn down due to their heritage. Tracey talks about an upcoming promotion at work and how there is a rumor that they want to promote someone from the floor to a manager position. Sweat, Lynn Nottage's play about discrimination at the workplace and the effect of economic downturns, returns to Philadelphia, courtesy of the Old Academy Players. She bitterly tells Oscar, the busboy at the bar, that she know[s] the floor as good as Cynthia does, and Jessie confirms that Cynthias promotion has pissed off a lot of people even though she earned it fairly.