Neighbors

“... will sneak up behind you, rip you open and turn you inside out without a please, thank you, or pardon me. And you'll thank them for doing it." - Aisle Say Twin Cities

September 16–October 9, 2011

Shockingly subversive and wickedly hilarious, Neighbors comments on black-and-whiteness in America with fearless intelligence. The take-no-prisoners comedy suggests that the complexities of race relations are almost too disturbing to consider—yet far too urgent to ignore. In its scathing exploration of denial and satire of black entertainment from minstrelsy to hip hop, Neighbors makes clear that we do not live in a post-race America.

What the Critics had to say –

This show received quite a bit of attention in the media, both for its challenging subject matter, its controversial presentation, and for its place as the season opener and first show with the Radical Hospitality model. Here is a compilation of the stories.

Sept 22: StarTribune review - "Neighbors gets in your face about race"
Sept 26: Pioneer Press review - "Terrific performances make confrontational conversation-starter work"
Sept 27: AisleSayTwinCities.com - "Who Are Our Neighbors in a "post-Black" World?"
Oct 6: Spokesman Recorder - "Great acting can't redeem stilted attempt at satire"
Oct 7: MPR's ArtHounds - Actor, singer, dancer Anna Esposito was "bowled over"
Oct 7: StarTribune - "Play's blackface, graphic sexuality offends, engages"
Oct 8: MPR NewsCut - "Adventures in uncomfortable theater"

And you told us what you think too!
With Neighbors, Mixed Blood launched Free Speech–your opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions with us and fellow audience members. The Mixed Blood blog (mixedbloodblog.wordpress.com) is a great place to read or say more.

Many of our audience members were inspired to blog or tweet their impressions of the show. You can read them at the blogsite or here, and here's one from one of Mixed Blood's council members:
The 19th Floor: "Neighbors may offend ... unsettle ... but won't bore ..."

Read the Neighbors program here.