Trouble in Mind | Trouble in Mind

At a glance:

Author: Alice Childress
First Published: 1971
Type of Plot: Social realism
Time of Work: The 1950’s
Setting: New York City
Principal Characters: Wiletta Mayer, Millie Davis, Sheldon Forrester, John Nevins, Judy Sears, Al Manners
Genres: Social realism, Satire, Drama
Subjects: 1950’s, African Americans, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Acting or actors, Racism, Sexism, New York City, Drama or dramatists
Locales: New York, NY

Trouble in Mind is set on a Broadway stage as the characters rehearse “Chaos in Belleville,” a play written, directed, and produced by whites which is saturated with stereotypes of African Americans who respond to oppression with subservience. Act 1 opens with Wiletta Mayer, a middle-aged veteran actor, accepting accolades from the doorman, who recognizes her from past performances. Wiletta is joined by John Nevins, a novice actor. Wiletta admires John, particularly when she discovers that he is the son of her girlhood friend. Sensing John’s eagerness to...

Trouble in Mind | Trouble in Mind

At a glance:

The Play

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