In “The Humanities”, The Emphasis Is On “Human”

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Flo Mano

The world premiere of “The Humanities” by Zayad Ayers Dohrn, directed by Edward Torres, is the feature at the newly reopened Victory Gardens Theater. The minimalist stage is well done, with racks of clothes, a couch, chair, and bookcases, complete with interesting and attractive decor which interchanges between scenes.

The story is a bit complex, with the action taking place at the fictional Lincoln College. Delusionment in the world of hypocritical academia is well explored and exposed. Emotions run high with the cast of characters: professors, assistants, students (both former and current), the dean, a political activist, guest lecturer, and a wanna be student (who can’t afford the elite school tuition but has a thirst for knowledge) round out the cast. The would be pupil becomes the fall guy in the antics of this disparate group.

Strong acting and directing make this interesting theatrical work very intriguing. The plot holds the attention of the audience with compelling twists and turns. “The Humanities” is for mature audiences, running through October 4th; for tickets or information, please see www.victorygardens.org. 

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