‘Ma(u)l’ surprises

Walking into the Wells-Metz Theatre on Saturday night, I had no idea what to expect, and boy, was I surprised with what I saw. I can honestly say that I was not expecting to see men wearing thongs, wild sex on the floor or burning crosses, but that was exactly what I saw at “American Ma(u)l,” written by Robert O’Hara and directed by Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe. \nThis political satire is based on the reinstitution of slavery in the 21st century because of the country’s dire economic state and the development of a new kind of cotton. The news of the abolishment of the 14th Amendment is announced by an Asian president wearing a thong and draped in an American flag. Soon after the announcement, Detroit is nuked because its residents stage a rebellion. The president goes on to say that this is necessary for the greater good and assures the audience not to worry, and to remember that they picked him because of his beauty, and as such they have no need to fear anything.\nI was a little scared at this point, to say the least. I was not sure if I should laugh, cry or just leave. I mean, the play was comedic – and I do not say that lightly – but I didn’t know how the rest of the audience would react. The actors cracked jokes, mostly racial, like there was no tomorrow. \nIn one scene there was a line of people waiting to be tested for potential “whiteness” so they would not have to pick cotton and be slaves. The line included Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks, Barack Obama and other famous African-Americans. Little scenes like this made the play comedic and easier to handle. I would not suggest this play for anyone who can’t take a joke. Obviously, the play included many racial jokes and stereotypes. \nThe set was simple and yet representative of the whole play. It had Mickey Mouse as the capitalist standing over the Capitol Building, which had the “sold” sign posted on it, and that is only some of what you will see if you attend the play. There were a couple of special effects in the show and they were very cool. \nThe acting was really good. Eunice Abena Ntiamoah, who played Juliet, was a great actress. She carried herself well and delivered her lines forcefully and to their maximum potential. The show featured other great actors and actresses, including Erin Ehlers, Bradley Wantz and Lawrence Evans. \nOverall, I enjoyed the play. I believe it was acted out well and the actors only made minor slip-ups, which also made the play seem more human, at least to me. The audience seemed to enjoy the play, as there was constant laughter coming from all sides of the theater. I would encourage anyone looking for some humor in their life to attend “American Ma(u)l,” which will be playing at 7:30 p.m. March 25 through March 28 and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. March 29 at the Wells-Metz Theatre.