Ma raineys black bottom takes place in 1927 and fictionalizes the reallife singer ma rainey, known as the mother of the blues, whose career spanned from 1899 to 1933. Ma raineys black bottom opens in a chicago recording studio in early march 1927. This study guide consists of approximately 54 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of ma raineys black bottom. Because he is uncomfortable dealing with black performers, he communicated mainly with ma raineys white manager, irvin. What other effects does the great migration have on the context of the play. Sturdyvant is warning irvin that he will not put up with any of ma raineys. He enters with ma rainey, sylvester, and dussie mae and engages in a. Describe the power relationships in the play between irvinsturdyvant and the band, between ma and irvinsturdyvant, and between. The plays two white characters mas manager, irv, and studio owner sturdyvant. Participate in handson activities that enhance understanding of the play and of the production 5. August wilsons ma raineys black bottom, his first play in a tenplay cycle, each chronicling a decade in the africanamerican experience, was first performed at the yale repertory theater in 1984, though wilson began writing the play in 1976, after listening to the blues for more than a decade. These people all seem pretty pumped to see ma rainey sing.
Premiered in 1984 a fictional story about a real woman, ma raineys black bottom was the only play in the cycle set in chicago. Mas insistence that her stuttering nephew sylvester should do the voice intro to. This monologue is from his play entitled ma raineys black bottom and the characters name is levee. It was the first of a series of plays in which wilson portrayed african american life in the 20th century. As the slowmoving, yet talented bass player in mas band, slow drag is a. Some, like ma rainey, accept the rules and find ways to manipulate the. Ma raineys black bottom writers theatre this visceral american classic serves as the 1920s chapter of august wilsons epic the american century cycle. He was the driver during the car accident, but ma absolves him of blame. Finally, ma rainey shows up with her lover, dussie mae, and her nephew, sylvester.
This 38page guide for ma raineys black bottom by august wilson. The play is mostly about power struggles between characters in the play. A policeman, who brings ma to the recording studio to check her identity after the. Ma raineys character is actually based on the famous singer. The hollywood reporter has hailed the lyrical writing and indelible performances of ma raineys black bottom, playwright august wilsons classic that debuted this month at. Ma raineys black bottom plot summary, character breakdowns, context and. Irvin irvin, ma raineys manager, is a tall, fleshy man who prides himself on his knowledge of blacks and his ability to deal with them 9. Ma raineys black bottom socratic seminar 1025 and 10. Identify central themes in ma raineys black bottom, including a. In ma raineys, wilson visits 1920s chicago, as the great migration north has just started, and african americans have began to assert themselves to gain rights denied to them in the south. The characters sturdyvant and irvin become wealthy exploiting mas recordings, providing a strong example of black victimization by societal racism.
Blackbottom, by the way, is also likely a shout out to ma raineys song, ma raineys black bottom, which is about a dance called the black bottom that was popular in the 1920s. Not well educated but stylish, flamboyant, brash, energetic, and ambitious, levee is in his early thirties and is the youngest of the musicians. August wilsons astonishing 10play cycle centaur theatre. Ma raineys black bottom reveals struggles of african.
Sprawling across the benches of a crowded concert hall, ma raineys fans are filled with excitement to see the show. He is the good cop to sturdyvants bad cop, believing, condescendingly, that he can communicate with black people. The play, set in a recording studio in chicago in 1927, features ma rainey, a popular blues singer, and the members of her band. In the 1920s, blues music crossed over into mainstream american show business, and ma rainey 18861939, along with bessie smith and others, was one of the first black singers to get a. The play takes place over the course of one day in a chicago recording studio, in which ma rainey and her band are laying tracks for a new album. The huntington theatre companys production of ma raineys black bottom provides a fitting swan song to their exploration of playwright august wilsons hugely influential pittsburgh cycle, a. Ma raineys black bottom guided discussion questions. Ma raineys black bottom takes place in a chicago recording studio where ma raineys band members, cutler, toledo, slow drag and levee, wait for her to show up to record their new album.
I can carry my black bottom on back down south to my tour. He knows ma rainey, he knows the blues, and most importantly, he speaks the language of black southerners. Guitar and trombone player in ma raineys band, cutler is also the leader of all the other instrumentalists. All are set in pittsburghs hill district except for ma raineys black bottom, which takes place in chicago. In the play ma raineys black bottom august wilson has many characters with many different personalities, which leads to a lot of conflict between the characters. Ma raineys black bottom wikipedia republished wiki 2. Ma raineys black bottom play characters stageagent. They come from river settlements towns along the river, blackbottom cornrows farms, and lumber camps. Ma raineys black bottom character analysis 2252 words. By the time ma rainey does turn up in full regalia and entourage in tow, the recording schedule is badly behind, throwing the white producers sturdyvant and irvin into more and more irate disarray. Ma raineys black bottom, drama in two acts by august wilson, performed in 1984 and published in 1985. The cycle plays are not interconnected as in a serial, however some characters do appear.
Set in a recording studio in the 1920s, the story takes place over the course of an. As they wait, the band players banter and tell stories and jokes, but it soon becomes clear that there is an underlying tension between the impulsive young trumpet player, levee, and the veteran. As previously mentioned, black entertainers were viewed as property. Because of these reasons, he represents white exploitation of black music. The white producers mean to exploit the talents of the bandespecially the gifted. The play takes place over the course of one day in a chicago recording studio, in which ma rainey and her. This production proves that the story still resonates today as a. Southers doesnt allow any of august wilsons spry dialogue to be tossed about or sped past.
He is young and built like an arkansas fullback, and he stutters. Characters of their music blues and jazz music, though they both have great roots in african american history, are undeniably different forms of expressing feelings that can be played using the same instruments. It would be insulting to speak exclusively of that sublime writing when director ron oj parson and the ensemble of ma raineys black bottom at writers theatre threaten to burn down the house with. Ma insists that he introduce her song, ma raineys black bottom, even though he stutters. The conflicts that the characters are fighting about are. Ma raineys black bottom characters by august wilson. Ma raineys black bottom socratic seminar 1025 and 1026 for all except 3rd period socratic seminar ma raineys black bottom come to class with questions, ideas, and observations about the characters lives in this play. Ma raineys black bottom short north stage columbus, oh. Ma raineys black bottom is a showcase for this formidably talented cast and creative team. Ma raineys black bottom opened in new york in 1984, becoming, as john lahr soberly notes in the national theatre programme, the first africanamerican play. Ma raineys black bottom characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis.
You really feel the presence of these characters in a largerthanlife way, and all you can do is harness them and channel them. Sturdyvant and irvin know that ma raineys albums sell well, yet they still exploit her for her voice. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Levee is then simultaneously fired by ma and rejected by producer sturdyvant and in rage fatally stabs toledo, destroying any possibility of a future for himself. August wilsons ma raineys black bottom gets a vibrant. Irvin is one of the two white characters in the play. Its 1927 in a rundown studio in chicago where ma rainey is recording new sides of old favorites. Ma raineys black bottom huntington theatre company. Tickets may be purchased online, by phone at 6172660800, or in person at the bu theatre box office. Resilience and dignity are the rich, bluesy music of ma. Ma raineys black bottom by august wilson goodreads. Questions themes effects of racial discrimination black identity power capitalismamerican dream the blues power 1. Ma raineys black bottom is part of august wilsons century cycle of plays, each depicting a decade of african american life during the 20th century.
Ma raineys black bottom, the first of wilsons plays to win wide acclaim, is among his finest work. Joe seneca, a character actor in ma raineys black bottom. Levee, the trumpet player in the band of black musicians that accompanies blues singer ma rainey. Ma raineys black bottom was written by august wilson. In the following essay, adell provides background on the real ma rainey, and explores the theme of blues music as release from oppression in ma raineys black bottom. The problematic role of religion in black american culture c. Ma raineys black bottom curriculum guide by huntington. Analysis and discussion of characters in august wilsons ma raineys black bottom.
In a chicagobased recording studio, ma raineys band players, cutler, toledo, slow drag, and levee turn up to record a new album of her. Joe seneca, a character actor who played one of the four musicians in august wilsons ma raineys black bottom on broadway in 1984, died on thursday at his home on roosevelt island. In the text, ma raineys black bottom by august wilson, there is a great conflict. Brilliant ma rainey explores 1920s racism arts the. Of particular note is wilsons character, levee, who literally. Fields and david alan anderson wearing hat, pictured with cast, star in ma raineys black bottom at writers theatre feb. Analysis of ma rainey s black bottom august wilson bartleby. As mas girlfriend dussie mae, nija okoro is both innocent and. Ma insists that he introduce her song, ma rainey s black bottom, even though he stutters. Discuss the connections we see between the instruments the characters play and their personalities.
The comedy in ma raineys black bottom can get broad, and rashsad, still best known for playing bill cosbys wife on the the cosby show, doesnt do much to tamp down the shticky. Dussie mae, mas lesbian lover, a young, darkskinned, sensual black woman. As directed by mark clayton southers, ma raineys black bottom is a tight drama with enough genuine laughs and tense moments to feel thrillingly real. Which ways to construct a proper identity present themselves to the characters in the play. What begins as a routine recording session becomes more strained as tensions rise between the members of a blues band and the owners of the recording studio. As they wait, the band players banter and tell stories and jokes, but it soon becomes clear that there is an underlying tension between the impulsive young trumpet player, levee, and the veteran players, cutler and toledo. Irvin attempts to keep ma and sturdyvant satisfied at the same time but. Ma raineys black bottom by august wilson characters sturdyvant irvin cutler toledo slow drag levee ma rainey policeman dussie mae sylvester scene 1 the lights come up in the studio. Ma raineys black bottom awardwinning director and cast.
Analysis of ma rainey s black bottom by august wilson. How do these roles influence the outcome of the play. He goes beyond craft, tying sculpted, tragic psychologies to behavior and turning his characters into symbols without denying their humanity. Further study suggestions for further reading brustein, robert.
Ma raineys black bottom is a 1982 play one of the tenplay pittsburgh cycle by august wilson, a pulitzer prizewinning american playwright that chronicles the twentieth century african american experience. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this ma raineys black bottom study guide and get instant access to the. Ma raineys black bottom runs at the bu theatre, 264 huntington ave. Wilson alludes to this in the first act of ma rainey, when slow drag describes eliza cotters. Featured content includes commentary on major characters, 25 important quotes, essay. Monologue compendium for ma raineys black bottom, download pdf. The play is set in chicago in the 1920s the only play in the group not set in pittsburgh, and deals with issues of race, art, religion and the historic exploitation of black. He is a tall, fleshy man who prides himself on his knowledge of blacks and his ability to deal with them. African american identity in the city in august wilsons. The use and abuse of multiculturalism, the new republic, september 16, 1991, v 205, no.
Critics have raised the possibility that perhaps sylvester is mas lover, rather than her nephew, and that sylvesters sniping with dussie mae reflects competition for. The exploitation of blacks in entertainment toledo v. The cycle reveals the 20 th century black experience one decade at a time, and reflects the poetry in the everyday vernacular of black america. August wilsons ma raineys black bottom, his first play in a tenplay cycle, each. This paper will be concerned with the possible ways of construction of identity 1 or the loss of identity particularly the african american identity in the modern metropolis as it is described in august wilsons play ma raineys black bottom.