If you do not know who Sarah Jones is, you will. She is a force to be reckoned with in her extraordinary one-woman show, “America: Who Hurt You?” playing at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn through Oct. 4. In this truly enthralling production, Jones inhabits over a dozen characters. The biracial actress, with a white Jewish mother and Black father, approaches life from several perspectives. With everyone celebrating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, she takes the country to task, asking America what happened, and how we got here. She sits down with America and lets her know she has a lot of work to do. America is of the mindset that everything is wonderful, but has to come to the realization that things have never been that way.
Jones confronts America with all the atrocities it has inflicted and still inflicts upon immigrants. She lets the voices of all types of people be heard — enslaved Black people, young Black men, older White men, older Black women, older Jewish women, gay Japanese men, Muslim men and women, Native Americans, Mexicanos, and people of Latin descent. She draws the characters from her own diverse family and from people around the country. She shows the multitude of stories that are out there and gives a detailed history of the horrors that this country has inflicted, and continues to inflict, on so many for these 250 years.
Jones forges a new frontier with this production as she boldly documents the troubled past of this young country — especially young when compared to other world powers like Britain. Jones brings us the human side of daily cruelty, racism, ignorance, and hatred. She counsels America that she cannot do better if she doesn’t acknowledge the terrible actions she has taken against minorities since her inception, beginning with Native Americans. By the end of the 95-minute production, you realize you’ve been watching a master class. Jones moves from one character to the next through voice, posture and demeanor, never losing a step.
She’s a pleasure to watch and her words hit hard, especially since things have gotten worse in this country, a place that used to welcome immigrants from everywhere and now wants to make immigrants, especially Black and Brown people, feel like they don’t have a home in this country.
This bold production has incredible video design by Stefania Bulbarella that truly captures the very essence of these distinctive characters and their heartfelt pain and anguish. Jones makes us all examine what this country has stood for and what it now has become. She tries to give us all a chance to be seen, appreciated and acknowledged. She lets the unheard voices have their moments in the spotlight and in our hearts. This production has spectacular direction by Eric Ting. Jones wrote and performed the play and does so with such ease; you will find yourself completely absorbed in her stunning energy.
“America: Who Hurt You?” is presented by the National Black Theatre, Theatre for a New Audience, in association with Foment Productions, Cinereach and Jason Jackson. The production has scenic and lighting design by Jiyoun Chang, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, and sound design by Palmer Hefferan.
This is the type of play that will resonate with so many of us. Gather your friends together and experience it as a group. Feel Jones’ energy, her truth and her commitment to the idea that this country has to change. Witness as she gives voices and depth to the plight of so many people who truly make up the melting pot of this country.
For more info, visit americawhohurtyou.com and for tickets, visit tfana.org/events.
