Choir Boy

Tarell Alvin McCraney

• Publisher: Theatre Communications Group
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781559367820
• Topic: Literatura
• Subtopic: Arte dramático americano

"An exhilarating, multi-layered new play."— The Guardian

"Stirring and stylishly told... McCraney's crispest and most confident work."— Daily News

"Greatly affecting.... It takes a brave writer to set his language against the plaintive beauty of the hymns and spirituals... but McCraney's speech holds its own, locating poetry even in casual vernacular and again demonstrating his gift for simile and metaphor."— The Village Voice

The Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys is dedicated to the creation of strong, ethical black men. Pharus wants nothing more than to take his rightful place as leader of the school's legendary gospel choir, but can he find his way inside the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key? Known for his unique brand of urban lyricism, Tarrell Alvin McCraney follows up his acclaimed trilogy The Brother/Sister Plays with this affecting portrait of a gay youth trying to find the courage to let the truth about himself be known. Set against the sorrowful sounds of hymns and spirituals, Choir Boy premiered at the Royal Court in London before receiving its Off-Broadway premiere in summer 2013 to critical and popular acclaim.

Tarell Alvin McCraney is author of The Brother/Sister Plays: The Brothers Size, In the Red and Brown Water, and Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet. Other works include Wig Out!, set in New York's drag clubs, and The Breach, which deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His awards include the 2009 Steinberg Playwrights Award and the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award.

An Office

HEADMASTER

I have never seen anything quite like it!

PHARUS

Headmaster—

HEADMASTER

As if something just shut down, lights out, Powered off.

PHARUS

Mr. Marrow?

HEADMASTER

Every head snapped back from looking at the seniors

Walking in, gallantly, stridently, with pride and—

Stop, dropped, turned around and looked at you.

PHARUS

Sir?

HEADMASTER

You!

Standing there not singing, not doing what

I asked—what I selected you to do!

And I said it, I reminded you at rehearsal in April,

Didn’t I, Pharus, I said no matter what, if th’ ground

Opens up and swallows the stage whole, do not stop

Singing the school song, son, until every student is gathered

Seated on that stage. What’d you say then?

HEADMASTER AND PHARUS

“Why?”

HEADMASTER

Jesus, hold my hand! I should have known right

Then!

PHARUS

Sir?

HEADMASTER

You can’t question something without trying it on,

Pharus! Curious with a capital C, but then was not

The time to be . . .

PHARUS

Sir, I’m not curious about much of—

HEADMASTER

Then why?

Because I am going to have to go out there, I am

Going to have to explain to the board—you think I want

To explain anything to the board? They were already passing,

Whispering, at the reception: “Why him? Why that one, Ste.”

“Well you heard him, he’s the best regardless of the . . .”

PHARUS

You said that about me, sir?

HEADMASTER

Yes—

PHARUS

I mean, it’s true, but you said?

HEADMASTER

Pharus!

PHARUS

Sir?

HEADMASTER

Why, after I asked you not to, told you you couldn’t,

Made you understand the tradition, pointed out its

Potency, did you get up there at the senior’s graduation,

A day that should afford them every rite and ritual

Of the ceremony, and mess up their moment

Why?

PHARUS

I . . . Would you rather be feared or respected, Headmaster?

HEADMASTER

Pharus!

PHARUS

It keeps me up at night.

HEADMASTER

It does not.

PHARUS

(Moving ahead)

Maybe I am curious—what’d you say?

HEADMASTER

Son!

PHARUS

“With a Capital C”? ’Cause see

If you’re respected people give you space

But if they fear you, they jumpin back off of curbs—

HEADMASTER

Are yah homesick with a capi...