The employees work lives and decisions about organizing likewise affect their children. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Tempted by the opportunity to finally work at the factory, where he will receive higher wages than at the bar, Oscar crosses the picket line. What statements does this play Sweatmake about racism and racial tension in the United States? ', 'Come From Away', and 'Anastasia' Lead 2017 Drama Desk Award Nominations", "2017 Tony Award Nominations: 'The Great Comet' and 'Hello, Dolly!' Tracey and Jessie grow bitter as their job security is threatened and their wages cut, while their friend Cynthia receives a promotion. 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. Complete your free account to request a guide. As the play switches back to 2000, we hope to learn what happened between them. The acting is superlative. [2] The play premiered at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015; it was produced Off-Broadway in 2016 and on Broadway in 2017. Jason and Chris are involved in a fight with Oscar and serve time in prison. Complimentary and Deeply Discounted Shows. Act 2, Scene 1 Summary. They both work at the factory and worry that they will be laid off. Lynn Nottage, as she showed in Intimate Apparel, which was about a seamstress in the 1900s, has the capacity to dramatise work. THEMEGUIDE KNOW BEFORE THE SHOW o Playwright Lynn Nottage was born in Brooklyn in 1964 and was educated at Brown University and the Yale School of Drama. Give to BMCC One of the major plot points in this ensemble driven piece is Cynthias promotion to management at Olsteads factory. Oscar and his coworker Stan (the bartender at the bar where the characters all hang out) are attacked in a demonstration. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child, Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine. Unfortunately, that kinetic energy is all on one level, high, so the audience feels distanced from the characters. This website uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The bartender is Stan, who used to work at the factory with them until he suffered an injury. First and only job. publication in traditional print. These are only the main characters. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Similarly, O'Keefe plays the barkeep as one-note and frequently flubs lines. Human Resources They both are arrested for assault and are released eight years later. 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. Last Updated on October 12, 2022, by eNotes Editorial. Club members can see a different show every night of the week. -Graham S. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. 5 pages at 400 words per page) [] Im not prejudice, I say, you are who you are, you know? . Divisions surface when the African American Cynthia is promoted from the shop floor to supervisor over the head of her white oldest friend, Tracey. Print Word PDF. I don't want this to be a big deal. Giving:540-231-8014,hkobia@vt.edu. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. For example, after Cynthia was promoted to Warehouse Supervisor, Tracey was very upset which led her to drink and smoke. Eventually in 2017, winning the Pulitzer prize award for drama. When layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust, the friends find themselves pitted against each other in a fight to stay afloat. But I stood on line, patiently waiting for a break. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. By using it, you accept our. To understand how we got here, Nottage takes us back to the year 2000. Characters such as Jessie use alcohol to cope with their problems to the point of being out of control, which was an important symbol specifically used by Jessica Hightower, Scenic and Properties designer of Sweat. Cynthia gets the promotion, and Tracey wonders if its just because Cynthia is Black. Refine any search. I dont think you get it, but if I walk away, Im giving up more than a job, Im giving up all that time I spent standing on line waiting for one damn opportunity. 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. They are best friends and joke around together. Race was never the main theme in, Sweat by Lynn Nottage, but it helped move the story along and added greatly to some of the characters development. Thats all I need to know. [1] It won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. During the play Cynthia applies for a managing job at the plant which causes some problems. date the date you are citing the material. We're friends! Both Cynthia and her loved ones feel hurt and misunderstood, further demonstrating the tendency for inequality in status to break apart relationships. Tracey and Cynthia, in particular, are close friends whove shared many adventuresthey console each other, cheer each other on, and encourage each other to stay positive and have fun rather than dwell on the stress of work. His best friend is Chris, Cynthias son. This contributed to the story of the play, as we continually see different scenes centered around drinking, especially after work or on stressful days. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. "Sweat - Themes" eNotes Publishing Lynn Nottages 2015 play Sweat centers on the events in the lives of several people who all work at the same factory, Olsteads, and are facing layoffs and downsizing. It won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This is highlighted by Brucie, who experienced a similar situation at a different mill. Race and class in the workplace: Nottage explores the. There are a group of friends that work for the steel factory. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. There are other minor characters in the plot of the play. Alas, its high production values can only do so much to hide the fact that Sweat leaves the audience feeling more like they've watched an extended soapbox speech rather than having spent time in the flesh-and-blood lives of its characters. JASON: Shit, I just kinda thought wed retire and open a franchise together. One of the major plot points in this ensemble driven piece is Cynthia's promotion to management at Olstead's factory. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Were a team, you cant leave!! Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves at the best online prices at eBay! Nottage addresses the theme of social status, specifically in how the characters' lives and relationships are shaped based on job position, socio-economic class, and education. American playwright lynn nottage won the 2017 pulitzer prize for drama for. Directions If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original In 2008, Chris and Jason both find themselves back at the bar to find some peace. publication in traditional print. 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. Jason Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Sweat switches between 2000 and 2008 as Lynn Nottage tells the story of a group of friends who work together on the factory floor. Their fathers and grandfathers, spouses, and everyone else in this small Pennsylvania town have grown up working on the plant floor, including Tracey and Cynthia's respective sons, Jason and Chris. Instant PDF downloads. date the date you are citing the material. Sweat challenged my thinking and led me to analyze serious problems that still have not been solved. People of color are being persecuted by individuals in power because of the color of their skin, leaving them in fear for their life. In the Character list, Nottage describes him as "African-American, forties" (vii). Try it today! Download the entire Sweat study guide as a printable PDF! Alumni, Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics, Theatre Department Performance: SWEAT by Lynn Nottage. eNotes.com The main themes in Sweat are race and class in the workplace, the effect of work life on the family, and economies and individuals. Job Opportunities The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Scene 1 of Act 2 shows Jason and Chris returning to visit their mothers. New York, NY 10007 Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Overall, I believe that this production was truly eye-opening and although many problems are discussed, the awareness raised about racial tension was the most significant. Lynn Nottage: 'Nostalgia is a disease many white Americans have', Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Event Calendar The sense of personal betrayal is exacerbated when it is left to Cynthia to reveal that the firm plans to ask everyone to take a 60% pay cut to save the plant. Tensions rise as Cynthias new position pits her against her friends. 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. In Lynette Lintons production, Frankie Bradshaws impressive design sets the watering hole against a background of rusting girders. The characters in Sweat have spent decades of their lives thanklessly laboring in Reading Pennsylvania's local steel and textile mills amid poor working conditions, disrespectful management, and union disputes. There are many scenarios that lead to this violent event, but I believe they are all significant in showing that, big or small, these racial attacks need to end. [7], The play has been described as "a powerful and emotional look at identity, race, economy, and humanity. It will unconditionally squander the time. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2009. Reading, Pennsylvania is an industrial town with an emphasis on blue collar jobs. [1] The action takes place in a fictional bar[6] in Reading, Pennsylvania.[7]. 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. I hope a lot of people come to see it.. CYNTHIA: Why the hell not? At the beginning of 2000, every character is either part of the working class or experiencing the repercussions of union strikes. Portia is stiff as Cynthia, talking at the characters instead of speaking her peace. 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. Struggling with distance learning? The play, however, takes place pre-Trump. [9] The Wall Street Journal review suggested the play "explained" Trump's win. CHRIS: Dude, its just something I gotta do. It highlights serious problems in society such as racism, economic strain, drug abuse, and toxic relationships. This section contains 1,616 words (approx. Filled with warm humor and tremendous heart, 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. Stay abreast of discount offers for great theater, on Broadway or in select cities. Cmon. Whether its the discussion that Oscar doesnt deserve a job or him being attacked, they are all just as equally painful and wrong. Faculty & Staff Oscar is a Colombian American busboy at the bar. Variety quotes the bartender, Stan, as warning the other characters that "You could wake up tomorrow and all your jobs are in Mexico", to which the characters respond with lethargy and disbelief. It won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. -Graham S. Below you will find the important quotes in, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. He offers guidance that is bluntly, candidly phrased, but also empathetically considered. CYNTHIA: Fuck her. 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. L ynn Nottage's Sweat is a play set in 2000 and 2008 that explores the tension in a group of friends in the midst of layoffs at a factory in Reading, Pennsylvania. Nottage said her dream is that audience members, after seeing the play, will be inspired to sit down and talk to someone with whom theyve never had a conversation. He used to work at the plant but he was injured from a factory accident. CYNTHIA: More money. As Warehouse Supervisor, Cynthia has a newfound insiders perspective into the management side of the plant. For online purchase, find ticket links here. Teachers and parents! Stan is severely injured, and the youths are arrested, convicted, and incarcerated. Sweat is a 2015 play by American playwright Lynn Nottage. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Jessie, another worker at the factory, is not so happy with how her life has turned out and has some problems with alcohol abuse. 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. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The action takes place in a fictional bar in Reading, Pennsylvania. Nottage shifts in time, switching scenes and showing events of eight years earlier. Religion and Culture News|Reserve Officer Training Corps News|School of Education News In this breathtaking new play, premiered in 2015, she tackles the devastating impact of loss of work and of de-industrialisation on modern America. It closed on December 18, 2016 to transfer to Broadway. Media Inquiries: 540-232-8574,jennykb@vt.edu, Alumni Relations:540-231-8364,robynes@vt.edu Tell me about whats been going on. Award-winning playwright Lynn Nottage often shines a spotlight on Black women under great duress, as in "Ruined," a Pulitzer Prize winner, or in the workplace like the evocative turn of the . Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child, Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine. In the midst of all this, Cynthia, who is African-American, is up for a management role after years of hard work, but her promotion leads to frustration as both the company and her friends use her as a scapegoat. The trade union goes on strike, and company management locks out the workers. CYNTHIA: Ive stood on that line, same line since I was nineteen. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. [26], Sweat received three 2017 Tony Award nominations: Best Play and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for both Johanna Day and Michelle Wilson. TRACEY: You want us to feel sorry for you? As such, the play shows how economic, Sweats cast of characters reads as distinctly human: none are wholly good nor wholly bad, and nearly all make mistakes that hurt themselves or their loved ones. Tickets, which are $12 for general admission and $10 for seniors and students, may be purchased through the Moss Arts Center ticket office in person or online. She doesnt really believe a floor worker will get the promotion, but when Cynthia talks about applying, Tracey decides to as well. Youve always been cool. 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. Before this, her inspiration came from her family. Dor Arena Theatre at CSUB. We are left hoping the characters will attempt to make amends as we see the effects of the conflict. But the sense of pride they've had over their work is being stripped away as the company begins to disassemble. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Im cool with everyone. Nottage began to write the play in 2011 and set its events during two notable economic downturns: the 2000 to 2001 recession following the dot com bubble and the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009. He finds out through his Latino network that the plant is hiring, which the owners have hidden from the other workers. In addition to being a play on serious themes, "Sweat" is an an award . If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contactSusan Sanders prior to the event. Tracey and Jessie grow bitter. Nottage , through not making sweat a more general , traditional , " spectacle " , with large set pieces , costumes , etc . "Sweat - Summary" eNotes Publishing However, several close relationships are challenged as characters try to pursue new opportunities and escape the very, Sweat takes place in Reading, Pennsylvania, a Rust Belt city whose predominantly white and largely working-class population is deeply affected by the early-2000s decline in the manufacturing industry. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. The City University of New York The two men have not seen each other since the events that led to their incarceration. 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. 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