The Block

Reviewed by Daphnie Sicre

Image Sourced by Working Theater

No borough is safe from gentrification, especially as developers eye the latest untouched land in New York City, the South Bronx, or what they are calling, SoBro.

"The Block" is part of Five Boroughs/One City, a theatrical initiative by The Working Theatre that aims to devise plays about each of the five boroughs based on conversations with residents in those communities. As soon as the pieces have been developed, they will be performed on a borough wide tour. "The Block" is the first in the series, and after the opening at Urban Stages in Manhattan, it toured all five boroughs.

In "The Block," proud residents of the Bronx reminisce about the good old times while dealing with gentrification, social stratification, classism, and simply trying to stay afloat. Clinton Lowe’s genuine portrayal of Dontrell, showcases a born and bread Bronx hustler who returns from upstate after discovering his girlfriend has cheated on him. Upon his return, he notices all the changes to his old neighborhood, barely recognizing it or its residents. Fortunately, he runs into his long time friend Rick (Flaco Navaja) at Moe’s (Nathan Hinton) storefront. Through lively conversations about the good old times, Moe, an African Immigrant admits that things are not the same and plans to move. Shortly after, Dontrell’s former roommate, Soria (Yvette Ganier) makes a grand entrance with a solo phone conversation with her girlfriend. Soon after, Dontrell and Soria sit down to discuss the realities of a landlord trying to kick her out of her home after 30+ years of living there. The only character that seems to be slightly disconnected with the story is that of Eddie (Robert Jimenez). Although heartfelt, his drunken accounts seem dropped in more than weaved into the story, while Navaja’s character Rick, breaks up the seriousness of the topics discussed through jokes and comic relief.

As the story unfolds, the passage of time is not fully developed making it hard to determine how much time has gone by throughout the course of the play. In between the scenes, we can hear hip hop music and recorded conversations that inspired dramatist Dan Hoyle to write "The Block." Hoyle is better known for his excellent solo performance work, but in "The Block," he manages to successfully interlace a series of sketches through conversations of interconnected characters that grew up in the Bronx. But in doing so, we are left wanting to know more about the stories of these characters and their respective fates, not the themes.

The Block by Dan Hoyle. Directed by Tamila Woodard. Set Design: Raul Abrego. Costume Design: Sarita Flores. Lighting Design: Alan C. Edwards. Sound Design: Mark Van Hare. Prop Design: Claire Kavanah. Dialect Coach: Beth McGuire; Production stage manager: Danielle Teague-Daniels. Off-Broadway Tour Venues. Urban Stages. 259 W. 30th Street, Manhattan. | Ridgewood Bushwick Youth Center .1474 Gates Ave, Brooklyn. | Local 3 IBEW Auditoriu 158-11 Jewel Ave, Queens. | Pregones Theatre 571 Walton Ave, Bronx. | Sung Harbor Cultural Center 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island.  Ran from May 28 - June 23, 2016

Daphnie Sicre is a full-time instructor at BMCC-CUNY, where she teaches courses in theatre, social justice, and advanced public speaking.  Some of her NYC directing credits include: "Shower Me" at FringeNYC, "Stranger" for Stage Black where she won a Best Director Award and the Audelco nominated "Not About Eve."