The Play "Southern Promises" The Abuse of Power Depicted in Kara Walker's Artwork Brought to Life

"Southern Promises" by award winning playwright Thomas Bradshaw ("Thomas and Sally") is in production at The Flea Theater.  The poster for "Southern Promises" is a black silhouette by renowned artist Kara Walker whose works depict race, sexuality, violence and the dynamics of abusive power.  The poster portends a disturbing depiction of America's inhumane and perverse history of slavery.  Walker said, "The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events, a point in history and nothing else." Bradshaw's play set in VA on a slave plantation graphically portrays innumerable cruelties and degradations of human beings obscenely justified on religious grounds and assumed white superiority not solely practiced during the slavery epoch.  The ticket taker/actor dressed in period costume tells everyone to enjoy the show.  This is not a show to be enjoyed.  It's a play that confronts us and ignites our consciousness causing us shame, indignation and immense pain for the plague of our nation's slavery history but for the perseverance of injustice and oppression regarding race and sexual abuse.  The cast's prologue informs us "we are all black" and our intent is to investigate slavery on our terms.'  They proclaim to embrace the entirety of their heritage of mixed blood and the entangling of the slave and the slave owner; the oppressor and the oppressed.  "Southern Promises" fulfills these promises in interesting, perverse and provocative manners.  Casting of characters do not abide racial expectations.  Plantation owner Isaiah (Darby Davis) tells his wife Elizabeth (Brittany Zaken) on his dying bed he wishes to emancipate his slaves posthumously.  Isaiah elicits her promise to fulfill his wishes.   Isaiah calls for his beloved slave Benjamin (Shakur Tolliver in a courageous performance) and reminisces their shared brotherhood as children.  Isaiah informs Benjamin of his plan to free him and all the slaves on the plantation.  Benjamin is saddened by the death of his "good master" and shares this news with his wife Charlotte (a tour-de-force Yvonne Pruitt).  Their joy is pre-mature. Elizabeth had no intention of releasing the slaves and uses Benjamin as her sex slave.  The sparse & clever scenic design show tables turned.   Positions of power turn and as foretold, the oppressed becomes the oppressor.  Kara Walker's daughter calls her mom's work "ugly art."  "Southern Promises" isn't concerned with presenting an enjoyable show.  It elicits strong emotions and reflections.  Nor is this a redemptive play but an ensnaring and overtly political work imbued with rage and the hope of breaking the cycle of racial hatred and persecution.