That dot in the title of minor.ity signals how francisca da silveira’s thoughtful comedy regards Black artists doing financially well for themselves by being, um, Black artists. Later they are revealed to be doing not so much in the way of art. Exploring the patronage side of an artist’s life and beyond, the play considers themes relating to Black identity and community. All that, plus it offers a satirical figure from Generation Z. There is much to appreciate in da silveira’s new play, commissioned by Colt Coeur and developed with the WP Theater, whose world premiere co-production opened on Monday.
An international African arts festival in Paris is the story’s glamorous situation, although the playwright confines the action to a backstage area where speakers wait for their panel sessions to begin. Scenic designer Brittany Vasta slyly suggests a grand Beaux Arts salon partitioned by industrial-type curtains into temporary holding spaces like this one, sparsely stocked with random furniture and cases of Fiji water.
A first-timer thrilled to participate in a bigtime festival, Sami Monroe is a New Jersey-born second generation Ghanian-American in her early 20s who describes herself professionally as a “director slash playwright slash dramaturg slash intimacy coordinator.” Some 20 years older and more reserved in manner is elegant Cèza Depina, a painter whose large abstract works reflect the volcanic origins of her native Cape Verde. They are joined by Cheikh Malick Diallo, also in his 40s and an exuberant performer of Senegalese-British descent — with an accent sliding between West Africa and West End London — who carries on the ancient Senegal tradition of storytelling. Actually, minor.ity is framed as a tale that Cheikh relates to the audience, complete with a moral about which viewers can draw their own conclusions.
As the conference begins, Cèza and Cheikh are established as former longtime lovers. Now they are rivals pursuing grants, patrons and sponsorships that give them nice livelihoods at what seems to be the expense of their artistry. “It’s better to farm your field than to pray for it,” Cheikh tells a side-eyeing Sami. “This is about business for all of us.” An aggressively friendly Sami dishes out word salad lectures on racism and colonialism to her elders and gets terribly offended when told otherwise. Cultural authenticity and exploitation are among the hot topics popping up amid these sometimes sharp face-offs between generations.
Although the play’s resolution appears hasty, da silveira tightly packs a density of themes and talk into the 100-minute minor.ity. So much so that perhaps the story and the issues it broaches might be more effectively expanded into a film — with contrasting Paris locations and cameo artists — that could realize the panel sessions, characters, restaurant intrigues, romantic backstory and guilt-tripping rich white people mentioned only in passing. Here, sound designer Tosin Olufolabi supplies the other-room murmur of audiences along with a cool, French-accented announcer’s voice for the ongoing festival ambience.
While the play does not delve as deeply as it might into its intriguing subject, it works well enough as neatly staged in the 108-seat circumstances of the WP Theater (aka McGinn/Cazale) space. Director Shariffa Ali’s staging combines good acting with smart design to provide an enjoyable production. A cheerful presence in a role that Idris Elba should pay money to depict on the screen, Ato Essandoh easily engages the audience as the storyteller. Nedra Marie Taylor portrays Cèza as a wounded soul who vainly masks inner sorrow with an aloof, worldly exterior.
The exquisite clothes designed by Celeste Jennings and an elaborate coiffeur by Amber Jasmin Morrow visually hint how the painter hides behind a carefully curated façade. Burning sage and coaxing the others into stepping through a diversify-unify exercise, Sami is a know-it-all youngster seen in every generation, but the playwright blends into this particular mix a judge-y, self-absorbed Gen Z streak. Fortunately Nimene Sierra Wureh gives Sami palpable warmth and a shaky sense of assurance that makes the character endearing despite her insufferable smarts.
minor.ity opened on April 14, 2025 at the WP Theater (McGinn/Cazale) and continues through May 4. Tickets and information: wptheater.org
