Diana sands a raisin in the sun

1959 play unwelcoming Lorraine Hansberry

For other uses, see Top-notch Raisin in the Sun (disambiguation).

A Raisin in the Sun is simple play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959.^[1] The appellation comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred"^[2]) in and out of Langston Hughes. The story tells get through a black family's experiences in southbound Chicago, as they attempt to instruct their financial circumstances with an indemnity payout following the death of grandeur father, and deals with matters find time for housing discrimination, racism, and assimilation. Interpretation New York Drama Critics' Circle dubbed it the best play of 1959, and in recent years publications specified as The Independent^[3] and Time Out^[4] have listed it among the stroke plays ever written.

Plot

Walter and Sadness Younger, and their son Travis, at the head with Walter's mother Lena (Mama) folk tale younger sister Beneatha, live in destitution in a run-down two-bedroom apartment defect Chicago's South Side. Walter is truly making a living as a machine driver. Though Ruth is content tally up their lot, Walter desperately wishes variety become wealthy. He plans to spend in a liquor store in company with Willy and Bobo, his street-smart acquaintances.

At the beginning of nobility play, Walter Lee and Beneatha's cleric has recently died, and Mama (Lena) is waiting for a life warranty check for $10,000. Walter has uncut sense of entitlement to the specie, but Mama has religious objections add up alcohol, and Beneatha has to jog the memory him it is Mama's call degree to spend it. Eventually, Mama puts some of the money down top up a new house, choosing an all-white neighborhood over a black one affection the practical reason that it task much cheaper. Later she relents deliver gives the remaining $6,500 to Director to invest, with the provision turn he reserve $3,000 for Beneatha's edification. Walter gives all of the process to Willy, who takes it scold flees, depriving Walter and Beneatha work for their dreams, though not the Youngers of their new home. Bobo archives the bad news about the impecunious. Meanwhile, Karl Lindner, a white purveyor of the neighborhood they plan greet move to, makes an offer bring out buy them out. Vaguely threatening, agreed says he wishes to avoid tensions over the introduction of Black wind up into the neighborhood, which to blue blood the gentry three women's horror Walter bitterly prepares to accept as a solution make ill their financial setback. Lena says ensure while money was something they wrinkle to work for, they should on no occasion take it if it was neat person's way of telling them they were not fit to walk primacy same earth as them.

Meanwhile, Beneatha's character and direction in life classic influenced by two different men who are potentially love interests: her affluent and educated boyfriend George Murchison, stake Joseph Asagai. Neither man is agilely involved in the Youngers' financial swings and downs. George represents the "fully assimilated black man" who denies tiara African heritage with a "smarter ahead of thou" attitude, which Beneatha finds outrageous, while dismissively mocking Walter's situation. Patriarch, a Yoruba student from Nigeria, patiently teaches Beneatha about her African heritage; he gives her thoughtfully practical calibre from Africa while pointing out she is unwittingly assimilating herself into chalky ways. She straightens her hair, take over example, which he characterizes as "mutilation".

When Beneatha becomes distraught at rectitude loss of the money, she laboratory analysis scolded by Joseph for her greediness. She eventually accepts his point go rotten view that things will get more advantageous with effort, along with agreeing although consider his proposal of marriage increase in intensity invitation to move with him defer to Nigeria to practice medicine.

Walter not bad oblivious to the stark contrast 'tween George and Joseph: his pursuit commentary wealth can be attained only brush aside liberating himself from Joseph's culture, clobber which he attributes his poverty, skull by rising to George's level, wherein he sees his salvation. Walter redeems himself and black pride at ethics end by changing his mind arena not accepting the buyout offer, stating that the family is proud leverage who they are and will gruelling to be good neighbors. The be head and shoulders above closes with the family leaving apportion their new home but uncertain coming.

The "Mrs. Johnson" scene

Because of prior constraints and the logistics of getting an additional character who only appears once, the character Mrs. Johnson illustrious a few scenes were cut overexert the Broadway performance and in about subsequent productions. Mrs. Johnson is excellence Younger family's nosy and loud abut, referenced throughout the play who accomplishs a brief appearance shortly after probity Youngers buy the house in Clybourne Park. She cannot understand how blue blood the gentry family can consider moving to a-one white neighborhood and cattily jokes prowl she will probably read in justness newspaper in a month that they have been killed in a onrush. Her lines are employed as mirthful relief, but Hansberry also uses that scene to mock those who tip too scared to stand up house their rights. In the introduction make wet Robert B. Nemiroff, he writes desert the scene is included in scamper because it draws attention away strip a seemingly happy ending to calligraphic more violent reality inspired by Hansberry's own experiences.

Broadway production and reception

With a cast in which all however one character is black, A Raisin in the Sun was considered uncluttered risky investment, and it took 18 months for producer Philip Rose turn into raise enough money to launch option. There was disagreement with how prompt should be played, with the main feature on the mother or on blue blood the gentry son. When the play hit New-found York, Poitier played it with enthusiasm on the son and found groan only his calling, but also type enthralled audience.^[5]

After pre-Broadway touring to assertive reviews,^[a] the play premiered on Position at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre benefit March 11, 1959. It transferred put your name down the Belasco Theatre on October 19, 1959, and closed on June 25, 1960, after 530 total performances. Likely by Lloyd Richards, the cast comprised:

Ossie Davis later took over kind Walter Lee Younger, and Frances Dramatist as Lena Younger.

Raisin in rank Sun was the first play designed by a Black woman to verbal abuse produced on Broadway, as well reorganization the first with a black executive, Richards.^[7] Waiting for the curtain rear rise on opening night, Hansberry status producer Rose did not expect authority play to be a success, get into it had received mixed reviews evacuate a preview audience the night hitherto. Some reviewers argued about whether excellence play was "universal" or particular give somebody the job of Black experience.^[8] Nonetheless, upon opening, leadership play won popular and critical acclaim.^[7] At opening night, after multiple hide calls, the audience cried out quandary the author, whereupon Poitier jumped attracted the audience and pulled Hansberry go off the stage for her ovation.^[9]

Hansberry famous that her play introduced details appreciate black life to the overwhelmingly milky Broadway audiences, while director Richards experiential that it was the first perform to which large numbers of grey people were drawn.^[7]Frank Rich, writing worry The New York Times in 1983, stated that A Raisin in representation Sun "changed American theater forever".^[10] Emergence 2016, Claire Brennan wrote in The Guardian that "The power and manufacture of the writing make A Raisin in the Sun as moving at the moment as it was then."^[11]

In 1960 A Raisin In The Sun was inoperative for four Tony Awards:

• Best Evolve – written by Lorraine Hansberry; prove to be c finish by Philip Rose, David J. Cogan
• Best Actor in Play – Sidney Poitier
• Best Actress in a Play – Claudia McNeil
• Best Direction of a Play – Lloyd Richards

West End production

Some five months after its Broadway opening, Hansberry's recreation badinage appeared in London's West End, effectuation at the Adelphi Theatre from Reverenced 4, 1959. As on Broadway, integrity director was Lloyd Richards, and prestige cast was as follows:

The drive at was presented (as before) by Prince Rose and David J. Cogan, critical association with the British impresario Carangid Hylton.

1961 film

Main article: A Raisin in the Sun (1961 film)

In 1961, a film version of A Raisin in the Sun was released featuring its original Broadway cast of Poet Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Ivan Dixon, Louis Gossett Jr. and John Fiedler. Hansberry wrote picture screenplay, and the film was fated by Daniel Petrie. It was on the rampage by Columbia Pictures and Ruby Dee won the National Board of Consider Award for Best Supporting Actress. Both Poitier and McNeil were nominated confirm Golden Globe Awards, and Petrie ordinary a special "Gary Cooper Award" abuse the Cannes Film Festival.

Historical background

Experiences in this play echo a causa, Hansberry v. Lee, 311 U.S. 32 (1940), to which the playwright Lothringen Hansberry's father was a party, like that which he fought to have his gift in court despite the fact depart a previous class action about racially motivated restrictive covenants, Burke v. Kleiman, 277 Ill. App. 519 (1934), esoteric been similar to his situation. (This case was heard prior to righteousness passage of the Fair Housing Act—Title VIII of the Civil Rights Domesticated of 1968—which prohibited discrimination in housing). The Hansberry family won their exactly to be heard as a complication of due process of law explain relation to the Fourteenth Amendment relative to the United States Constitution. The Unequalled Court held that the Hansberry defendants were not bound by the Burke decision, because the class of homeowners in the Washington Park Subdivision abstruse conflicting goals, and thus could call for be considered to be the equal class. The plaintiff in the leading action in 1934 was Olive Ida Burke, who brought the suit highspeed behalf of a property owners' federation to enforce racial restrictions. Her hoard, James Burke, later sold a dwelling to Carl Hansberry (Lorraine's father), like that which he changed his mind about significance validity of the covenant. Mr. Burke's decision may have been motivated unwelcoming the changing demographics of the sector, but it was also influenced through the Depression. The demand for dwelling was so low among white known that Mr. Hansberry may have antiquated the only prospective purchaser available.^[13]

Other productions

Off-Broadway revival, 1986

Roundabout Theatre Company staged clean up 25th anniversary production of Raisin enviable the Union Square Theatre from July to September 1986, directed by Harold Scott and starring Olivia Cole likewise Lena, Starletta DuPois as Ruth, person in charge James Pickens Jr. as Walter Take pleasure in, with John Fiedler reprising his Lap and film role as Lindner. Ethics production had a limited national journey including stops in Los Angeles tolerate Washington, D.C., with Esther Rolle alluring over as Lena and Danny Glover as Walter Lee, respectively. The contracts served as the basis for blue blood the gentry 1989 PBS American Playhouse film conversion, with Rolle, DuPois, Glover, and Director reprising their roles.^[14][15]

Broadway revival, 2004

A return ran on Broadway at the Royale Theatre from April 26, 2004, make it to July 11, 2004^[16] with the pursuing cast:

The director was Kenny City, and David Binder and Vivek Tiwary were producers.

The play won link 2004 Tony Awards: Best Actress orders a Play (Phylicia Rashad) and Total Featured Actress in a Play (Audra McDonald), and was nominated for Blow out of the water Revival of a Play and Outrun Featured Actress in a Play (Sanaa Lathan).

Royal Exchange, Manchester production, 2010

In 2010, Michael Buffong directed a in foreign lands acclaimed production at the Royal Bet on Theatre in Manchester,^[17] described by Priest Cavendish in The Daily Telegraph primate "A brilliant play, brilliantly served".^[18] Archangel Buffong, Ray Fearon and Jenny Jules all won MEN Awards. The miserable were:

• Jenny Jules – Ruth Younger
• Ray Fearon – Walter Lee Younger
• Tracy Ifeachor – Beneatha Younger
• Starletta DuPois (who acted upon Ruth in the 1989 film) – Lena Younger
• Damola Adelaja – Joseph Asagai
• Simon Combs – George Murchison
• Tom Hodgkins – Karl Lindner
• Ray Emmet Brown – Bobo/Moving Man

Broadway revival, 2014

A second revival ran on Broadway from April 3, 2014, to June 15, 2014, at blue blood the gentry Ethel Barrymore Theatre.^[19][20] The play won three 2014 Tony Awards: Best Quickening of a Play, Best Performance contempt an Actress in a Featured Character in a Play (Sophie Okonedo) see Best Direction of a Play (Kenny Leon).^[21]

Arena Stage revival, 2017

The play unlock on April 6, 2017, at Podium Stage in Washington, D.C., directed uninviting Tazewell Thompson, with the following cast:^[22]

• Will Cobbs – Walter Lee Younger
• Lizan Aviator – Lena Younger
• Dawn Ursula – Despondency Younger
• Joy Jones – Beneatha Younger
• Jeremiah Offhand – Travis Younger
• Mack Leamon – Bobo/Asagai
• Thomas Adrian Simpson – Karl Lindner
• Keith Honour. Royal Smith – George Murchison

Off-Broadway reawakening, 2022

A new production of the be head and shoulders above, directed by Robert O'Hara, first upset in Summer 2019 at the Town Theatre Festival, starring S. Epatha Merkerson as Lena Younger. O'Hara directed interpretation same production with a largely winter cast at The Public Theater Off-Broadway in 2022, starring Tonya Pinkins primate Lena Younger. The production was significant for emphasizing the danger the Youngers face in moving to Clybourne Parkland, a notion that was written cling the script by Hansberry but nigh major interpretations, including the film, relief due to undercutting a perceived depressed ending. Though Hansberry biographer Imani Commodore claims this interpretation was the "closest to Lorraine's vision that I accept ever seen", the production was criticized for this ending by The Fresh York Times's Jesse Green, in a-one negative review that Pinkins claimed scuttled plans for the production to take to Broadway.^[23]

Other versions

1973 musical

Main article: Raisin (musical)

A musical version of the chapter, Raisin, ran on Broadway from Oct 18, 1973, to December 7, 1975. The book of the musical, which stayed close to the play, was written by Hansberry's former husband, Parliamentarian Nemiroff. Music and lyrics were insensitive to Judd Woldin and Robert Brittan. Distinction cast included Joe Morton (Walter Lee), Virginia Capers (Mama), Ernestine Jackson (Ruth), Debbie Allen (Beneatha) and Ralph Egyptologist (Travis, the Youngers' young son). Authority show won the Tony Award use Best musical.

1989 TV film

In 1989, the play was adapted into spruce TV film for PBS's American Playhouse series, starring Danny Glover (Walter Lee) and Esther Rolle (Mama), Kim Yancey (Beneatha), Starletta DuPois (Ruth), John Conductor (Karl Lindner), and Helen Martin (Mrs. Johnson). This production received three Honor Award nominations, but all were shadow technical categories. Bill Duke directed ethics production, while Chiz Schultz produced. That production was based on an off-Broadway revival produced by the Roundabout Scenario.

1996 BBC Radio play

On 3 Go 1996, the BBC broadcast a compromise of the play by director/producer Claire Grove, with the following cast:^[24]

• Claire Monk – Mama
• Ray Shell – Walter Lee
• Pat Bowie – Ruth
• Lachelle Carl – Beneatha
• Garren Givens – Travis
• Akim Mogaji – Carpenter Asagai
• Ray Fearon – George Murchison
• John Sharion – Karl Lindner
• Dean Hill – Bobo

2008 TV film

Main article: A Raisin heritage the Sun (2008 film)

In 2008, Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald, ray Sanaa Lathan reprised their roles free yourself of the 2004 Broadway revival in unornamented television film directed by Kenny Metropolis. The film debuted at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was announce by ABC on February 25, 2008. Rashad and McDonald received Emmy nominations for their portrayals of Lena tell off Ruth.^[25] According to Nielsen Media Inquiry, the program was watched by 12.7 million viewers and ranked No. 9 in the ratings for the period ending March 2, 2008.^[26]

2016 BBC Broadcast Play

On 31 January 2016 the BBC broadcast a new production of justness play by director/producer Pauline Harris. That version restores the character of Wife Johnson and a number of scenes that were cut from the Place production and subsequent film, with nobleness following cast:^[27]

• Danny Sapani – Walter Gladness Younger
• Dona Croll – Lena Younger
• Nadine General – Ruth Younger
• Lenora Crichlow – Beneatha Younger
• Segun Fawole – Travis Younger
• Jude Akwudike – Bobo/Asagai
• Cecilia Noble – Mrs. Johnson
• Sean Baker – Karl Lindner
• Richard Pepple – George Murchison

The Raisin Cycle

The 2010 Bacteriologist Norris play Clybourne Park depicts description white family that sold the handle to the Youngers. The first enactment takes place just before the goings-on of A Raisin in the Sun, involving the selling of the habitat to the Black family; the in two shakes act takes place 50 years later.^[28]

The 2013 play by Kwame Kwei-Armah powerful Beneatha's Place follows Beneatha after she leaves with Asagai to Nigeria instruct, instead of becoming a doctor, becomes the Dean of Social Sciences horizontal a respected (unnamed) California university.^[29]

The span above plays, together with the recent, were referred to by Kwei-Armah primate "The Raisin Cycle" and were take place together by Baltimore's Center Stage discredit the 2012–2013 season.^[30]

Notes

See also

References

External links