"'Blood at the Root' is the powerful and moving interpretation of those events, a work that prompts discussion…The individual performances from these young actors are all strongly committed and convincing...When the climax arrives it is thus all the more effective as we have connected with the characters. The group dynamics are equally captivating as friendships and loyalties are challenged, strengthen, or collapse."
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"Every actor is given a moment to shine and they do...A powerful collaborative piece. Director Broadnax makes impressive use of the set to change pace, scene and mood...Playwright Morisseau has written an exquisite play which addresses prejudice...It is not however a piece that preaches at the audience....It shows how we can all have prejudices of different kinds even when we acknowledge this should not exist: it makes you want to be better."
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"Led by powerful, mature performances from a six-strong ensemble, the show highlights the need for engagement in politics at grassroots level...This central theme could be explored even further. Instead, the actors rely a little too much on the tropes of student musical theatre...Misplaced decisions aside, this is authentic, comprehensive and provocative theatre that plays host to a vital, meditative conversation."
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"An ensemble piece in every sense of the word...A moving and enlightening experience…Perhaps the most impressive thing about the show is the subtlety with which it explores the themes. Each character brings a different nuance to the discussion...The cast is extremely strong...The play illustrates the issues it raises, but steers clear of directly offering a solution. Instead, it allows the solution to emerge naturally in the audience's minds as the only possible answer."
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"Dominique Morisseau sets out to teach us about the discrimination that is still consistent in American culture...All six cast members are essential in bringing a further dimension into the crisis of identity. They are powerful and persuasive in their roles where their own views force us to evaluate our own. By fusing a dramatic play with modern physical elements, 'Blood at the Root' is a powerful performance that encourages us to stand up and chant for change."
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