Savon Bartley lays bare his life, insecurities, and trauma — along with his resilience — as he commands the stage in his tour-de-force one-man show, “Holes in the Shape of my Father.” For 60 minutes, Bartley shares his autobiographical, candid story of growing up without a father in a family where generations of fathers did not choose to stick around and be a part of their children’s lives.
The journey begins when Bartley spots his estranged father, Charles, in an Instagram video, a moment that sparks a raw exploration of the pain and disappointment of growing up without a father at home — and without a male role model to show him what it means to be a man. As the audience goes on this journey with him he delivers a story, rhyming at times, that is vulnerable, powerful, bold, honest, and vivid. He comes from a lineage of men, all named Charles starting with his great-grandfather, who never were involved fathers and instead were unapologetic womanizers. We witness Bartley brilliantly and emotionally maneuver through the tumultuous memory of his past and the past sins of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. This play poses the question: can a familial pattern be broken or are the descendants destined to repeat the sins of their fathers? It is interesting to realize that while Bartley went through much, he gives abounding credit and praise to his mother, who struggled to raise a Black man on her own.
Sitting in the audience, your heart will go out to Bartley. While this is an incredibly personal play for the writer and performer, he manages to deliver the story with passion, humor, and a fantastic amount of rhythm. Bartley speaks truth to trauma as he talks about his childhood and the very real pain he is still feeling as a man.
This production is set in an intimate theater and features sound design by Stan Mathabane and lighting design by Cody Hom. The direction by Adam Coy is sensational. The Tank, a theater space at 312 W 36th Street, showcases the work of emerging artists.
This production may be premiering, but trust me, we will be hearing more about Bartley. “Holes in the Shape of my Father” is an important play to be experienced by everyone, but especially by young men who grew up without a father in their lives; this production gives them a well deserved voice. The trauma Black men face in fatherless households is rarely explored on stage, yet Bartley approaches it with a power that feels almost therapeutic, as if a healing process is unfolding right before our eyes. Go and support this incredibly talented young man. The production will run through Oct. 12. For tickets, visit thetank.com.