Rivers to Cross Review. Rivers to Cross is an admirable play that takes you on a wistful journey of black history, over a time period of 174 years.

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Rivers to Cross – Review

Rivers to Cross is an admirable play that takes you on a wistful journey of black history, over a time period of 174 years. The atmosphere of the play is set as commemorative, yet at the same time accusing of the audience and through the use of multimedia and contemporary dance and song, Gazebo Theatre Company introduces many unknown, black characters to the audience’s knowledge. While listening to the song ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ before I watched the play, I felt the hardships and suffering that black people have faced throughout the 174 year journey. I felt the song was symbolic of a unity that had suffered racism and prejudice to a major extent, but still had faith. To me, this was very poignant.

As previously mentioned, the play introduced many famous black individuals of the past that were relatively unknown to today’s audience.  Some characters of the play included Ira Aldridge, Walter Tull, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Dr Harold Moody, Paul Robeson and Barack Obama. I believe the most innovative part of the play is that the production focuses primarily on British history as well as American history, which I thought was shown as insightful and profound, to a subject that has barely been touched upon.

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Although I believe the production was admirable, I thought the story was little confusing at times and could have been made improved, something I would have definitely done if I had the chance. Around the start of the play we see a young boy affected by the London riots stumble upon a museum and become ‘possessed’ and therefore showing him the past of black history. I didn’t enjoy watching the story of the riots being portrayed, especially so soon after the actual event, as it made me think that it had been added to the production quickly and in a ...

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