Sweat by Lynn Nottage

SWEAT: The Working America in a Greedy America A Play by Lynn Nottage

https://www.paperbackparis.com/sweat-lynn-nottage-book-review/ “JASON: It’s nice that you take care of him. OSCAR: That’s how it oughta be,” (Act II, scene vii, page 112)

Dramaturgical Packet by A.B. Harrison 2

Table of Contents

Playwright Bio 3 Major Production History 6 Critical Analysis The Poem 8 American Dream vs. Corporate Greed 9 Drugs and Poverty 10 Racism and Immigration 11 Prison and Forgiveness 12 Conclusion 13 Symbols 14 Reading, PA. 16 The Labor Union 17 Dedication 19 Glossary 20 Facilitation Prompts 27 Annotated Bibliography 28

Playwright Bio

Lynnnottage.com

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1964, Lynn Nottage grew up the daughter of a schoolteacher and child psychologist. Influenced by her maternal figures who would sit in the kitchen and tell stories, Nottage began writing plays at a young age in personal journals. She would ride the subway to the High School of Music and Art in Harlem (now part of LaGuardia High School) to begin her creative education before attending Brown University. After receiving her BA (1986), Nottage would earn an MFA from Yale School of Drama (1989) and her DFA from Brown University (2011). Recently, Nottage has received honorary degrees from Juilliard and Albright College. Nottage still lives in Brooklyn and is married to filmmaker Tony Gerber, with whom she has two children. “Nottage's plays, which are noted for their depth of research and their capacity for bringing characters alive in a specific time and place, differ widely from one another as the playwright has consistently explored new settings and techniques” (Encyclepedia). “Her plays […] are vigorously researched and unapologetic about their social concerns, at a time when critics tend to dismiss “issue plays” (Schulman). Lynn Nottage is a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright (winning twice for her plays Ruined and Sweat) and a screenwriter. Her plays have been produced throughout the world: Her most recent play, Mlima's Tale, premiered at the Public Theater in May 2018. 4

2017’s Sweat won the Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize with nominations for the Tony and Drama Desk Awards after a sold out run at The Public Theater and later transfer to Broadway. Other notable plays include • By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (2011) o A seventy-year journey through the life of Vera Stark, a headstrong African-American maid and budding actress, and her tangled relationship with her boss, a white Hollywood star desperately grasping to hold on to her career. When both women land roles in the same Southern epic, the story behind the camera leaves Vera with a surprising and controversial legacy. • Ruined (2008) o Dramatizes the plight of Congolese women surviving civil war. Set in a small mining town in Democratic Republic of Congo, Ruined follows Mama Nadi, a shrewd businesswoman protecting and profiting from the women she shelters. • Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine (2004) o The play deals with a successful African-American woman named Undine who goes into a downward spiral and rediscovers her roots. • Intimate Apparel (2003) o Set in New York in 1905, the play tells the story of a black seamstress named Esther who makes lingerie for a variety of clients ranging from high-society women to prostitutes and becomes involved with their lives even as her own relationships with men develop. • Las Meninas (2002) o The play is a romance, long mostly erased from the historical record, between Marie-Thérèse, wife of King Louis XIV of France, and an African dwarf who had been brought to the French Court. • Mud, River, Stone, (1997) o The play contained both comic and serious elements in its story of a middle-class African-American couple who becomes lost in Africa and is held hostage by a former bellhop at a hotel in the jungle. • Crumbs from the Table of Joy (1995) o Set in the 1950s in New York, the play deals with an African-American family that experiences instant integration when the father marries a German woman who may have survived a Nazi concentration camp. • Por’knockers (1995) o The play deals with the theme of African-American activism. The play, veering between comedy and tragedy, depicts a group of revolutionaries whose plan to set fire to a government office building goes seriously wrong, and it juxtaposes their story with that of a Guyanese gold miner, the original “por'knocker” of the title. 5

• POOF! (1993) o The play addresses the issue of domestic abuse, built around the memorable image of a woman whose husband spontaneously explodes and disappears. She is the co-founder of the production company Market Road Films, writer/producer on the Netflix series She's Gotta Have It directed by Spike Lee, and an Associate Professor in the Theatre Department at Columbia School of the Arts. Nottage is the recipient of • a MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellowship • Steinberg "Mimi" Distinguished Playwright Award • PEN/Laura Pels Master Playwright Award • Merit and Literature Award from The Academy of Arts and Letters • Columbia University Provost Grant • Doris Duke Artist Award • The Joyce Foundation Commission Project & Grant • Madge Evans-Sidney Kingsley Award • Nelson A. Rockefeller Award for Creativity • The Dramatists Guild Hull-Warriner Award • the inaugural Horton Foote Prize • Helen Hayes Award • Lee Reynolds Award • Jewish World Watch iWitness Award • National Black Theatre Fest's August Wilson Playwriting Award • a Guggenheim Grant • Lucille Lortel Fellowship • Visiting Research Fellowship at Princeton University. www.lynnnottage.com/about.html www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/nottage-lynn-1964

Major Production History

• 2015, Premiered July 29 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, directed by Kate Whoriskey o Cast: Evan- Tyrone Wilson ▪ Jason- Stephen Michael Spencer ▪ Chris- Tramell Tillman ▪ Stan- Jack Willis ▪ Oscar- Carlo Alban ▪ Tracey- Terri McMahon ▪ Cynthia- Kimberly Scott ▪ Jessie- K. T. Vogt ▪ Brucie- Kevin Kenerly • 2015, Played at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. o Director and cast remained the same • After starting previews on October 18, 2016, Sweat opened Off-Broadway at The Public Theater on November 3, 2016, directed again by Kate Whoriskey. The show closed on December 18 in order to transfer to Broadway. o Cast: Evan- Lance Coadie Williams ▪ Jason- Will Pullen ▪ Chris- Khris Davis ▪ Stan- James Colby ▪ Oscar- Carlo Alban ▪ Tracey- Johanna Day ▪ Cynthia- Michelle Wilson ▪ Jessie- Mariam Shor ▪ Brucie- John Earl Jelks o Nottage “goes where few playwrights have dared to go — into the heart of working-class America. Her insightfully observed characters all went to the same schools, work at the same factory, drink at the same bar, and are going to hell in the same hand basket. Their jobs, their community, and their way of life are doomed, in director Kate Whoriskey’s mercilessly realistic production, although no one seems to have gotten the message yet” (Stasio). • 2017, The production began previews on Broadway at Studio 54 on March 4, 2017 before opening on March 26. The production closed on June 25, 2017, after 105 performances. o Cast: Evan- Lance Coadie Williams ▪ Jason- Will Pullen ▪ Chris- Khris Davis ▪ Stan- James Colby ▪ Oscar- Carlo Alban ▪ Tracey- Johanna Day ▪ Cynthia- Michelle Wilson ▪ Jessie- Alison Wright ▪ Brucie- John Earl Jelks 7

o Sweat explores “Our tendency, when knocked down by our perennial inability to read the future, especially when we don't like what we usually know is coming, to lash out at all the wrong people” (Jones). o “Though it is steeped in social combustibility, “Sweat” often feels too conscientiously assembled, a point-counterpoint presentation in which every disaffected voice is allowed it’s how-I-got-this-way monologue.” Brantley. • 2018, A production was staged at the Mark Taper Forum from August 29 to October 7. The production was directed by Lisa Peterson. o Cast included in alphabetical order: Kevin T. Carroll, Grantham Coleman, Will Hochman, John Earl Jelks, Mary Mara, Peter Mendoza, Michael O’Keefe, Amy Pietz, and Portia. o Sweat “leaves the audience feeling more like they've watched an extended soapbox speech rather than having spent time in the flesh-and-blood lives of its characters” (Schwartz). • 2018, a London production began playing at the Donmar Warehouse on December 7 and run until February 2, 2019. The play was directed by Lynette Linton. o “I can’t think of any recent play that tells us so much, and so vividly, about the state of the union” (Billington).

The Effect of Corporate Greed on the Blue-Collar Worker The Poem An excerpt from Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes: O, yes, I say it plain, America never was America to me, And yet I swear this oath— America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death, The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies, We, the people, must redeem The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers. The mountains and the endless plain— All, all the stretch of these great green states— And make America again!

Nottage begins Sweat with the ending of Hughes’ poem as a form of foreword. From the first stanza there is an outlining of the writer’s opinion on the American Dream, one that has far seemed unobtainable. Yet, there is a declaration for change, a direct announcement that the Dream will manifest itself at some time. o Jason and Chris (Act I, scene i) just got out of prison; Olstead begins laying off people and look for cheaper workers (first seen in Act I, scene v), the patrons turn on Oscar for crossing the line to better himself (Act II, scene v) The final septet concludes the poem by denouncing through fire the negative issues that have plagued America before. From the ashes there will be a rebirth in America, one that rebuilds the wholesome and supportable purpose of the Nation. From this ending a hope is revealed: to make America good again. o Cynthia gets the promotion in Act I, scene v o Oscar gets crosses the line and gets a new job in Act II, scene v Nottage seems to use this poem as a reflection of her play’s message to work together to rebuild the American Dream and as a call to arms to take a stand against the corporate and political inequality. If we the people of the United States feel that this country is not what it should be, then we have the ability and moral obligation to change it. For too long in Sweat the characters are at each other’s throats instead of standing side by side and helping one another prosper. By fighting amongst ourselves nothing will be achieved; yet, through perseverance and comradery anything is possible. And even though none of Nottage’s characters leave the play 9 having achieved much, there is a glimpse of hope as the lights dim that tomorrow’s America will be a better day. o Throughout the play we see the characters choose to fight one another over jealousy and pride; however: o At the play’s conclusion the audience sees Oscar taking take of a now crippled and mentally challenged Stan. He justifies his reasoning by saying “That’s how it oughta be” (Act II, scene vii, page 112).

American Dream vs Corporate Greed The relevance of the unnamed bar in Lynn Nottage’s play Sweat goes far beyond the fact that it’s the setting for the majority of the play’s action; instead, the bar represents the safe haven ground where Sweat’s characters can unwind and join together in a communal environment. Yet as the play’s events unfold while the country’s economy dissolves, nothing can be farther from the truth. As writer Ben Brantley writes in his review “'Sweat' Imagines the Local Bar as a Caldron,” “the bar […] is a place where friendships go to die. Sure, it looks awfully cozy and welcoming, and you can see why its denizens regard it as a second home. But this much- trafficked watering hole also exerts a dangerous gravitational force, the kind that holds people in place when they should be moving on.” (Brantley). The bar becomes a cesspool of anger, frustration, jealous, immigrant racism, and ultimately violence. From the play’s old-fashioned and naturalistic setting, the audience is witness to a microcosm for the struggling American society outside its doors. Jonas Schwartz writes in his article “Working-Class Values and the American Dream Are on the Line in Sweat” that the play uses “television screens to document major world events that led to the collapse of the American factory system, such as the financial crisis and bailout of 2008 and the election of George W. Bush in 2000, so that the audience can travel back to a precarious time not very different from 2018” (Schwartz) when the nation was anxious over Donald Trump’s presidency. In 2000, the characters’ lives are troubled with personal and family problems and the potential of their desires left untapped while being stuck in Reading, yet as a group, things still look hopeful. When the possibility of a job opening up at the plant becomes known there is a proposal for the audience to consider that either Tracey or Cynthia will get the job, and the work conditions could improve now that a ‘little person on the totem pole’ is in a position of power. Therefore, the characters become blind to their aspirations for a happier life and ignore the potential consequences of when either Tracey or Cynthia will get the job. When Cynthia is ultimately hired, Tracey becomes jealous and the rest of the bar patrons begin to blame her for the plant’s greedy actions. As the curtain of the stock market’s continues to fall and the new presidential election comes closer, the Olstead plant which employs the Reading workers becomes greedy in their finances and chooses to prioritize their own profits instead of worrying about the workers’ 10 livelihoods, workers whose blood and whole careers have been rooted in the plant for generations. The characters are stuck in a moment of total lose best seen through lines: TRACEY to CYNTHIA: “Do you know what it felt like to walk up to that plant, and be told after all them years I can’t go in? I can’t even go to my locker and get my stuff. I have photos of my husband in there. I have my grandfather’s toolbox. […] They didn’t even have the decency to let us clear out with dignity. A note taped to the door, what is that?” (Act II, scene iv, 80) And CYNTHIA to TRACEY: “I don’t think you get it, but if I walk away, I’m giving up more than a job, I’m giving up all the time I spent standing on line waiting for one damn opportunity” (Act II, scene iv, 83). The characters have nowhere to go, an increasingly depleting cash flow, and two choices: 1. Strike as a union while defending their livelihood and years of service BUT risk behind replaced, or 2. Surrender to the Olstead plant’s demands and let the upper management profit off their fear of unemployment.

Drugs and Poverty Two characters in particular are heavily burdened by substance abuse: Tracey and Brucie. The latter was injured prior to the play’s earliest scene in 2000 and has since been addicted to drugs in order to cope with the pain. However, the drugs have now ruined his marriage and his reputation in Reading, especially in the eyes of his son Chris. Nottage, when interviewed by Quentin Fottrell for his article “Lynn Nottage on 'Sweat,' Her Broadway Play about Factory Workers in Trump's America” in discussing how “people who work in factories are more prone to injury and likely to take pain medication,” states that “Reading is one of the heroin capitals of the country. When people can no longer afford pain killers they go to cheaper solutions. People who are working physically have more kinds of pain. I do believe that pharmaceutical companies recognize it. You can almost track new markets and addiction. This is one reason heroin moved from being an urban phenomenon to a rural phenomenon” (Fottrell). Nottage also goes on to state that “there are people who want to leave [Reading], but don’t have the financial means to leave. Their poverty becomes a prison. They can’t find work, but can’t get enough money to move to a city where they can. That’s one of the true tragedies. Everyone I spoke to while I was in Reading, without exception, wanted to be working” (Fottrell). Nottage’s research is best seen in the low morale of the bar patrons. Without their wages, depression sets. Tracey, one of the main two female characters, becomes addicted to drugs because she feels without a purpose. Therefore, she escapes into the needle. 11

Racism and Immigration The bar patrons generally act as a cohesive family of sorts; sure, there may be a snag or two here and there, but at the end of the day, they function as a unit of support for work-related issues and life events. The only character who starts the play distant from the rest is Oscar the Columbian busboy. Oscar is on stage for almost the entire play yet remains invisible to the rest of the cast, with the exception of the kind Stan, unless they want something and rarely is there ever a gentle word delivered to him. One must wonder why Oscar is treated the way he is. “When backed up against the wall and left with neither income nor hope,” Jonas Schwartz writes in his article “Working-Class Values and the American Dream Are on the Line in Sweat,” “people sink into racism almost by reflex” (Schwartz). What Oscar represents to the bar patrons is the swarm of (desperate) immigrants that have previously come into the country and taken American jobs for cheaper than Americans would work for. Because of this, there is a lot of misplaced resentment towards Oscar as if he was just another immigrant with a green card taking jobs from hard-working Americans. Chris Jones justifies this claim in his review “'Sweat' Is Lynn Nottage's New Broadway Play about Working-Class Frustrations” saying “our tendency, when knocked down by our perennial inability to read the future, especially when we don't like what we usually know is coming, to lash out at all the wrong people” (Jones). When Oscar decides to quit his job at the bar and cross the picket line to work in the factory, his race and immigration instantly becomes an issue and the patrons’ subconscious feelings become known and start attacking Oscar verbally until the play’s climax violently escalades and Oscar, Jason, and Chris get into their fate-defying fight. Yet this is not the only moment where race becomes a political argument. As Michael Schulman writes in his article “The First Theatrical Landmark of the Trump Era,” as the country’s political and economic system becomes questionable, “the bar’s tenuous ecosystem unravels: economic anxiety begets racial resentment (Tracey thinks that Cynthia got the promotion because she’s black), [and as we know] xenophobia (a Colombian busboy who works as a scab is targeted), and violence” (Schulman). When Cynthia is given the promotion over Tracey in the company, Cynthia is seemingly instantly accused of being given special treatment for the company to fill a racial diversity quota. Instantly, friendships become a battle between whites vs. blacks. … A controversial element to this play is the white supremacist tattoos that adorn Jason’s face, prison tats that represent Jason’s attempt at surviving in prison, tattoos that will hinder Jason’s freedom. Evan tells Jason, “[You] might wanna get rid of those tats. We’ve talked about it. They’re going to cause you trouble out here. Might make you a tough guy inside, out here… guess what? Every time I look at them I wanna punch you out. That’s me being honest. But, lucky for you I’m here to help” (Act I, scene i, 9). While to Jason the tattoos are representative of his journey and survival in prison, to the outside world they only categorize him as a racist. While Jason could easily in fact be called a racist for wearing those tattoos, one must also lift the lens of understandable bias to consider Jason as a potential victim of the harsh reality of 12 the prison system where one’s identity is discarded and a new identity in order to survive must be born and hard decisions must be made. It is important to note that Jason’s best friend, before going to prison, was Chris, an African American. Therefore, when Evan begins cynically mocking Jason’s tattoos, he is discarding the potential reality of Jason’s own vulnerability and need to survive. He stereotypes Jason as just another vile convict and ignores the possibility of why Jason tattooed his own flesh with villainous images in prison. Perhaps the only way a young and weak Jason could survive in prison was to join a racist gang; without a family or Chris, the gang became Jason’s family. Ultimately, the reason for Jason’s tattoos don’t matter. Evan is right; Jason will have a hard time surviving in a world than no longer tolerates bigotry and intolerance.

Prison and Forgiveness “[Jason and Chris] are positioned here as the human costs of what the venture capitalists wrought, men who have taken a fall from which it becomes impossible to recover, even though in the case of Jason, he threw the punch that caused so many of his problems” (Jones). The most significant element of imprisonment (contrary to Nottage’s statement that “their poverty becomes a prison. They can’t find work but can’t get enough money to move to a city where they can) is seen through the aftereffect of Chris and Jason’s time in prison. To restore themselves back into society, they each are required to meet with Evan, their parole officer. While Chris is readily able to talk to Evan, Jason is far more apprehensive, so much that Evan must remind Jason that with the ink from his pen, Jason’s freedom could be ended. In truth, there is a metaphorical invisible chain that still shackles Chris and Jason to the prison system and their former lives, and it is only through working with Evan that they will again become members of society and end their emotional imprisonment of rage and shame. For Chris, he has every reason to be angry with Jason. In fact, the seemingly only reason Chris went to prison was for backing Jason up in the fight like most pals would. Yet, a post- prison and now religious Chris is not angry with Jason anymore, and this confuses him. Evan, therefore, treats Chris’ state of mind by telling him, “That’s okay. These things ain’t simple. I had a ‘banger who was up in here, hard as stone. He got out, made amends, crossed so many bridges he was practically walking on water. He found forgiveness to be the easier of his two paths” (Act II, scene vii, 108). Through Evan’s sense of wisdom, Chris is able, though he doesn’t admit it, to accept not being angry towards Jason and to forgive himself for making his mistake and not thinking too much about what COULD have been. The truth lies in Evan’s message: forgiveness is easier that rage and the only real way to move on IS to move on and cross the bridge towards a happier life. For Jason, the only person left to blame in his life is himself; therefore, his sense of attitude and his tattoos could be considered understandable as they serve as markings for what he thinks he deserves. Now free but without a job or family, Jason’s life is meaningless. Jason is left 13 feeling shame for ruining his, Chris’s, and Stan’s lives. Yet, Evan, to mirror his breakthrough moment with Chris and message of forgiveness states, “I’ve seen enough guys in your situation to know that over time it’s… it’s crippling. I’m not a therapist. I’m not the right dude to talk to about this. But what I do know, is that it’s not a productive emotion? Most folks think it’s the guilt or rage that destroys us in the end, but I know from experience that it’s shame that eats away until we disappear. You put in your time” (Act II, scene vii, 109). For a long time, Jason has hidden behind his rage, shame, and tattoos as a way to blanket himself from truly exploring and acknowledging his inner struggle. The only way for Jason to move in life is to cast his shame aside and be reborn.

Conclusion While this play works excellently as a work of fiction set in a depressing American era, the play is rooted in historical truth as Nottage herself based her play on Reading, PA., one of the nation’s poorest cities to create a character-driven social commentary on the relationship between capitalism/corporate greed and the country’s humanity. Because of the play’s relevant source material, the audience is left with the effects not of corporate greed but of neglecting our friends in a time of need. Because our characters were blind to acknowledge the humanity and need to survive of their fellow bar patrons, several lives were destroyed. Chris and Jason, the latter scarred with white supremacist tattoos, were sent to prison; Brucie and Tracey are addicted to drugs; the wise and kind Stan, the one character who remained faithful to humanity, is left brain damaged and sentenced to a life far more depressing than that of economic inequality. Yet while “the ramifications of humanity's anger hangs over the play, […] Nottage hints at the power of forgiveness and redemption” (Schwartz). Because Chris and Jason are confronted by their own choices and their need to move on productively at the end of the play, there is finally a true resolution in American drama; we learn through the last lines, “JASON: It’s nice that you take care of him. / OSCAR: That’s how it oughta be,” (Act II, scene vii, 112) what is most important in life. It’s not a job or promotion but each other. As long as we the audience have each other’s back and stand together to fight, actively or not, the inequality that is in our nation, we can survive and live another day… together as “it oughta be.”

Symbols Jason’s Turtles: A newly freed Jason is left with neither much in his possession nor any example of normalcy in his life. Jason, whose only option is to make pretzels as a living and sleep in a shelter, only seems to possess a set of (I’m guessing) two turtles, turtles that give Jason a sense of comfort in an unfriendly world. (Act I, scene i) Chris’ Bible: When Chris is released from prison, a juxtaposition to Jason’s turtles, the one possession he cherishes is his bible, the bible that he says saved him in prison. What the bible signifies to Chris is his fortitude to change his ways and to never go back to be the man he once was. Additionally, while Chris has every reason to be angry at Jason, the bible gives him the ability to forgive. (Act I, scene i)

Evan’s Pen: As Jason acts the part of an ex-convict not willing to co-operate, Evan is forced to showcase the power of an object as otherwise insignificant as a pen, yet, this pen has the power to send Jason back to prison, thus ending his freedom. It is the pen itself and the corresponding paperwork that ties Jason to his former prison. (Act I, scene i) Tattoos: While most tattoos are meant to amplify and shape a wearer’s body, the tattoos that Jason gets in prison are a direct result of his inner fear and turmoil as a character. In prison, Jason gets white supremist tattoos across his face in order to survive in the harsh world that is the prison system. To survive, Jason casts aside his normalcy and permanently scars his face in order to last in an 8-year prison sentence. (Act I, scene i)

The Bar: The bar is the common ground where the characters can unwind and form together as a community. The bar is meant to be a safe zone where their lives and problems are to be left at the door, yet once the plant hires Cynthia and starts making cut-backs, moving machinery, and denying benefits, the bar is no longer a safe zone; instead, the bitterness and cruelty that lingers in the real world starts poisoning the bar’s atmosphere. The bar becomes the cesspool where verbal battles are done and friendships end. What once was a center of joy is now filled with racism and prejudice. (starting Act I, scene ii)

Cash: Whenever a character is asked to borrow money or pour a free drink, there is a real-life reflection in the struggle that our characters must endure. Without money, there is no way to survive, and as the characters’ financial matters fall under the backdrop of the country’s economy, we find that both are tied together. (starting Act I, scene vii) The Picket Line: The Olstead plant workers and patrons are more than just co-workers of past and present, they are a family. Once the plant begins to pressure the workers to take pack-cuts or be forced out of a job, the local union which everyone is a part of forms a strike to try and gain rights and their jobs back, but there are workers who cross the picket fence in need of work. By 15 crossing the line, they are ostracizing themselves as traders who have abandoned the rest of the union. They are scabs. Once Oscar crosses the line, the little sense of family he had with the bar patrons is stripped, and he is considered a traitor of the people. (Significance in Act II, scene v- vi)

Jason’s Motorcycle: Of the young duo, Jason is the most rebellious and youthful. His goal and purchase of a Harey-Davison represents his desire to be free from his mother and her house. His desire lies in being on the open road exploring whatever he can find, not in the dead-end Reading city. (Act I, scene iii) Albright: The final part of the due, Chris desires to better himself and his future. He values the thought of education. Instead of living off the plant’s paychecks or the union’s handouts, Chris wishes to get his teaching license and be a man of his own. The reveal near the end of the play that Chris was supposed to go to Albright the day after the barfight occurs delivers an especially hard-hitting punch for the audience as we wonder what Chris’ life could have been. (Act I, scene iii)

Alcohol: While it is easy to diagnose the alcohol as being a representation of their inner depression, what alcohol truly does in this play is act as a catalyst for the characters to abandon their inner sense of morality and ethics and spill their deepest thoughts, especially those of anger, jealousy, and fear. The alcohol pushes the characters to fight amongst each other. (starting Act I, scene ii) Drugs: Though the type of drug is never revealed in the play, Brucie and Tracey become addicted to drugs as an escape from their failures and lack of a job. Without a job, their lives are meaningless; with drugs, meaningless is not felt. (starting Act I, scene ii)

The News-segments: As each scene opens, there is a descriptive account of the real-world events that shape the characters’ lives, especially the two presidential races and the fall of the country’s economy. (Throughout play) 2000/2008: These years are extremely significant to the play’s timeline. 2000 is the year before 9/11 and the year that Republican George W. Bush is elected president. He will send the country to war and favor high businesses during his reign. 2008 will show Democrat Barack Obama win the presidency and usher in a hopeful new change for the country. While still allowing the country to be at war, Obama passes legislation meant to protect the blue-collar workers. (Throughout play)

Reading, PA.

https://www.readingpa.gov/content/history-reading Reading, PA., founded in 1752, is a city and seat of Berks county. Berks County lies in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania on the Schuylkill River. Reading is 51 miles (82 km) northwest of Philadelphia. During the American Revolution, Reading served as a supply depot and manufacturer of cannons. Industrial growth began in the late 18th century with the development of the iron and steel industries in Berks county. After the production of upper Great Lakes ore overshadowed that of Pennsylvania ore, Reading shifted to the fabrication of iron and steel. The opening of the Schuylkill Canal to Philadelphia (1824) and the Union Canal to Lebanon and Middletown on the Susquehanna River (1828) and the completion of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (1884) greatly stimulated industrial growth. In the 1890s, safety-bicycle manufacturing mushroomed. Development of the textile and hosiery industry was started about 1900. In 1974 Reading became the site of the world’s first multi-tenant manufacturers’ outlet (opened by women’s lingerie manufacturer Vanity Fair), and outlet stores and malls continue to play a prominent role in the local economy. In the early 21st century, local industries included electronic components, batteries, specialty steels, energy-storage technology, and medical devices. The Reading area is the seat of Albright College (1856), Alvernia University (1958), Kutztown University (originally Keystone State Normal School, 1866), and the Berks campus (1958) of Berks–Lehigh Valley College of Pennsylvania State University (Penn State Berks). Officially designated “Baseballtown” in 2002 by local authorities, the Greater Reading area has a long history with the American national pastime that dates from the formation of the Reading Athletic Club in 1858. Minor league professional baseball has been played on and off in Reading since the late 19th century, and the Reading Fightin Phils of the Eastern League have been an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies since 1967—currently the longest continuous association between a Major League Baseball team and a “farm club.”

History based on the article from https://www.britannica.com/place/Reading-Pennsylvania 17

The Labor Union

https://uaw.org/taking-look-back-child-labor/ Labor unions have existed in one form or another in the United States since the birth of the country. They were created to protect the working population from corporate abuse like sweatshops and unsafe working conditions. They were built by the workers, for the workers. However, for decades they have also been accused of crippling industries and consorting with organized crime in an effort to gain the upper hand. Over time, labor unions began to be woven into the political, economic, and cultural fabric of America, and their influence has played a colorful role in its development. The Beginning Over the first hundred years of U.S. history there were few labor unions and most disbanded after they had achieved their goals. An example would be when the printers briefly unionized in New York City in 1778. The first successful strike took place in 1791 when Philadelphia carpenters campaigned for a 10-hour workday. The need for both skilled and unskilled labor grew during the Industrial Revolution and the Civil War when the use of slavery became illegal; this helped to improve the rights of workers to receive a fair wage for their trade and hard work. Protecting Worker Rights • The National Labor Union was created in 1866 to convince Congress to limit the workday for federal employees to eight hours, but the private sector which made up most of the working industry was much harder for unions to infiltrate and operate in. 18

As immigrants (who would work for cheaper wages) came into the country, the price of labor and working conditions declined in the 1890s. This led the Pullman Railroad workers and United Mine workers to protest, however, both strikes were ended by the government. • The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions was formed in 1881, and the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was founded five years later. • The Department of Labor was formed in 1913 when Congress became more sympathetic toward the labor force. • The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 allowed employees to strike and boycott their employers and was followed by the Public Contract and the Fair Labor Standards Acts which mandated a minimum wage, extra pay for overtime work and basic child labor laws. Wartime Labor unions grew in power and number from the Civil War through World War I as the need for factory workers and other laborers increased. They lost ground during the Roaring '20s, however, when the economy grew so much that the need for unionization seemed irrelevant. But the Great Depression quickly reversed this trend and unions grew stronger than ever under Roosevelt's New Deal policies. Union membership grew exponentially as the depression wore on and workers sought employment and protection through their local trade unions. The power of the labor unions was somewhat curtailed during World War II, however, as some unions, such as those in the defense industry, were forbidden by the government to strike due to the impediment that it would present to wartime production. But the end of the war saw a wave of strikes in many industries and it was at this point that union power and membership reached its zenith. The unions were a controlling force in the economy during the late '40s and '50s, and the AFL merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) at this point to spearhead the American labor force. Decreasing Power When union leaders became corrupt and complacent, and the power the unions had on the industry began to decline over the decades. As additional laws were passed outlawing child labor and mandating equal pay for equal work regardless of race or gender, unions became less important to workers who were able to rely on federal laws to protect them. The Union’s Effect on Current Politics Labor unions proved to be instrumental in getting President Obama elected in 2008 and reelected in 2012. The unions hoped that Obama would be able to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, a measure of legislation intended to streamline and shorten the process that unions must use to bring in new members. This act would have shifted the balance of power in the workplace in the unions' favor and allowed their memberships to grow rapidly but failed when Democrats were unable to collect the necessary votes. 19

Union membership ended up decreasing during this time, leading members to switch their support to the Republican candidate during the 2016 election resulting in Donald Trump winning the presidency over Hillary Clinton.

History based on the article from https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0113/the-history- of-unions-in-the-united-states.aspx

Dedication The play is dedicated to Wallace Nottage, Lynn’s father who died the year the play was produced on Broadway.

Glossary

Page Phrase Definition 5 One of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), the only one in which all member nations have equal representation, and the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative United Nations organ of the UN. Its powers are to oversee the budget of the UN, General appoint the non-permanent members to the Security Council, Assembly appoint the Secretary-General of the United Nations, receive reports from other parts of the UN, and make recommendations in the form of General Assembly Resolutions. 5 Or simply the Dow, is a stock market index that measures the stock performance of 30 large companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. Although is one of the most Dow Jones commonly followed equity indices, since it only includes 30 Industrial companies and is not weighted by market capitalization and is Average not a weighted arithmetic mean, many consider the Dow to not be a good representation of the U.S. stock market and consider the S&P 500 Index, which also includes the 30 components of the Dow, to be a better representation of the U.S. stock market. 5 Also known as The Staudt Farm, is a historic home and farm Old Dry Road complex was first settled in 1744 located in Lower Heidelberg Farm Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. 12 Sneaker Villa Shoe/Sporting goods store 14 Designated A member of a group who abstains from alcohol in order to Driver drive the others home safely. 16 An artificial 82 km (51 mi) waterway in Panama that connects Panama Canal the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit for maritime trade. 17 Wine from the northernmost wine district of the Burgundy region in France. The cool climate of this region produces wines Chablis with more acidity and flavors less fruity than Chardonnay wines grown in warmer climates. 20 Clemmons Technologies Fictional company for the play 20 The North American Free Trade Agreement is a treaty entered into by the United States, Canada, and Mexico (came into effect on January 1, 1994) resulting in the three countries became the largest free market in the world. NAFTA was created to eliminate tariff barriers to agricultural, manufacturing, and NAFTA services; to remove investment restrictions; and to protect intellectual property rights. This was to be done while also addressing environmental and labor concerns (although many observers charge that the three governments have been lax in ensuring environmental and labor safeguards since the agreement went into effect). Small businesses were among those 21

that were expected to benefit the most from the lowering of trade barriers since it would make doing business in Mexico and Canada less expensive and would reduce the red tape needed to import or export goods. https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/north-american-free-trade- agreement-nafta.html 20 A learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate Dyslexic to letters and words (decoding). Also called reading disability, dyslexia affect areas of the brain that process language. 21 Ethic group from the country of Columbia in the northern region Columbian of South America 21 Ethnic group from the unincorporated US territory of Puerto Puerto Ricans Rica in the Caribbean 22 Gimlet A cocktail typically made of 2 parts gin and 1-part lime juice. 22 An individual typically male who uses dark magic against Warlock others. 25 A slow growing painful bony bump that develops on the inside Bunions of the foot at the big toe joint that causes pressure on the big toe joint causes the big toe to lean toward the second toe. 26 Wharton Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania 28 An American publishing executive who was a candidate in the Steve Forbes 1996 and 2000 Republican Presidential primaries. 28 A series of elections in many U.S. states, D.C., and U.S. Republican territories that ultimately the Republican Party's nominee for Primary President of the United States 29 Harley-Davison, an American motorcycle manufacturer based in Harley Milwaukee, WI. 30 Nike Flight- Positive Shoe style by shoe manufacturer Nike. 30 Air Jordan XV Show style by Nike. 30 An American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Olive Garden Italian-American cuisine 30 Sixers *See Philadelphia 76ers 30 Albright College, a private liberal arts college founded in 1856 Albright in Reading, Pennsylvania. 31 Syrupy Reference to Maple syrup commercials by company Ms. Commercials Butterworth 31 An annual observance celebrated in February originating in the Black History United States as a way for remembering important people and Month events in the history of the African diaspora. 32 A city and vacation resort on South Carolina’s Atlantic coast and Myrtle Beach the hub of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile string of beaches. It’s also known for its celebrity-designed golf courses. 22

32 An American multinational coffee/doughnut company and quick Dunkin’ Donuts service restaurant. 32 A Caribbean island nation with a lush topography of mountains, Jamaica rainforests and reef-lined beaches. Also the birthplace of reggae music. 34 Republican A series of political debates held between the candidates for the Presidential Republican Party's nomination for the United States presidential Debate election. 34 An American conservative political activist, pundit, author and Alan Keyes former ambassador who ran for President of the United States in 1996, 2000, and 2008. 34 An American politician and military officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from January 1987 until his death. He served two terms in the United States House of John McCain Representatives and was the Republican nominee for president of the United States in the 2008 election, which he lost to Barack Obama. 34 An American politician and businessman, son of 41st US president George H. W. Bush, who served as the 46th governor George W. Bush of Texas from 1995 to 2000 and later the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 winning against Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004. 34 Baldwin Hardware Corp. American manufacturer of doorknobs and locks. 34 Leesport is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United Leesport States and 18-minute drive from Reading, PA. 34 Also known as the common chimpanzee or robust chimpanzee. Chimp A species of great ape native to the forests and savannahs of tropical Africa. 35 Also known as a bed and breakfast, a small lodging B and B establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast. 35 A Central American country with Caribbean Sea coastlines to Honduras the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. 36 Cats Slang term for a person 36 Series of islands off the coast of the southeastern European Greek Islands country Greece 38 Dixon’s Hosieries Fictional stocking manufacturer for the play 45 Dow Jones *See Dow Jones Industrial Average 45 The World Bank is an international financial institution that World Bank provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. 45 An international organization that aims to promote global International economic growth and financial stability, encourage international Monetary Fund trade, and reduce poverty. 23

47 Centro Hispano/ Latino Community Center Social services organization in Reading, Pennsylvania 49 Opa Greek word for grandfather 49 Pomeroy’s and Whitner’s Department stores in Reading, PA. 50 An American former professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association at a shooting Allen Iverson guard and point guard positions. He played for 11 total seasons with the 76ers. 50 An American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia Philadelphia metropolitan area as a member of the league's 76ers Eastern Conference Atlantic Division 50 Eastern Conference One of two championship series of the National Basketball Semifinals Association 53 An American apparel company founded in 1889 known for its work clothes, such as jackets, coats, overalls, coveralls, vests, Carhartt shirts, jeans, dungarees, fire-resistant clothing and hunting clothing. 55 A Canadian singer-songwriter whose songs often reflect social Joni Mitchell and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy. 56 A line of trading stamps popular in the United States from the Green Stamps 1930s until the late 1980s, similar to a loyalty coupon 56 One of seven communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. 56 A former professional baseball player who played for three seasons in the Major League Baseball, between 1986 and 1989 Phil Lombardi for the New York Yankees and New York Mets. He was primarily a catcher, but also played the outfield. 56 Was an American actor, producer, and voice artist best known to James Garner modern audiences for his role in The Notebook. 56 Stops along the Hippie Trail, an overland journey taken by Istanbul, Tehran, members of the hippie subculture and others from the mid-1950s Kandahar, to the late 1970s between Europe and South Asia. The hippie Kabul, trail was a form of alternative tourism, and one of the key Peshawar, elements was travelling as cheaply as possible, mainly to extend Lahore, the length of time away from home. The term "hippie" became Kathmandu. current in the mid-to-late 1960s; "beatnik" was the previous term from the later 1950s. 61 Was an American magazine that targeted working women, Working Woman unlike traditional women's magazines which focused on Magazine women's roles as wives and mothers, or on fashion. The magazine ceased publication in September 2001 after 25 years. 24

65 A county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the Berks County, 2010 census, the population was 411,442. The county seat is Pa. Reading. 66 A frozen and blended carbonated drink sold exclusively at 7- Slurpee Eleven stores. 70 An American multinational corporation founded in 1886 and headquartered in New Jersey that develops medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods. Its common Johnson & stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Johnson the company is ranked No. 37 on the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue. J&J is one of the world's most valuable companies. 70 An American multinational conglomerate headquartered in Boston with products in aviation, healthcare, power, renewable energy, digital industry, additive manufacturing, venture capital General Electric and finance, lighting, and oil and gas. As of 2018, GE ranked among the Fortune 500 as the 18th-largest firm in the U.S. by gross revenue. 76 A sweet cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut or coconut Pina Colada milk, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. 77 Slang for the upper management who do not get themselves White Hats dirty or involve themselves with the floor operations. 81 A resort city on New Jersey's Atlantic coast that's known for its Atlantic City many casinos, wide beaches and iconic Boardwalk. 81 Champagne Sparkling wine 82 A distilled type of alcoholic drink made from the blue agave Tequila plant 84 An American politician, diplomat, lawyer, writer, and public speaker. She was First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001, a United States senator from New York from 2001 to Hillary Rodham 2009, and the 67th United States secretary of state from 2009 Clinton until 2013. Clinton became the first woman to be nominated for president of the United States by a major political party when she won the Democratic Party nomination in 2016 yet lost to Donald Trump (R) 84 A former four-term U.S. Representative from the State of New Rick Lazio York. Lazio became well-known during his bid for U.S. Senate in New York's 2000 Senate election but lost to Hillary Clinton 84 Also known as the Williams Sisters, two professional American Venus And tennis players who have had a legendary career together and Serena Williams individually. 84 An international multi-sport event in 2000 which was held Sydney Summer between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New Olympics South Wales, Australia. It was the second time that the Summer 25

Olympics were held in Australia, the first being in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1956. 88 A media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy that was initially a line Transformer of transforming mecha-toys that had its first live action film in 2007. 90 Was an American lawyer who served as the Attorney General of Janet Reno the United States from 1993 until 2001 during the Bill Clinton Administration. 90 Sony PlayStation A home video game console developed and marketed by Sony 2 Computer Entertainment 92 Buena Suerte Spanish for “good luck” 92 Series *See Major League World Series 95 An American politician and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Near Al Gore the end of Bill Clinton's second term, Gore was selected as the Democratic nominee for the 2000 presidential election but lost the election to George W. Bush after a Florida recount. 96 Gulf of Mexico, an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Gulf Atlantic Ocean where the U.S. regularly drills for oil 101 Also known as a Permanent Residence Card, is a document issued to immigrants under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Green Card bestowing the rights, benefits, and privileges of permanently residing in the United States. 103 A type of food made of ground maize dough, originating from Arepas the northern region of South America in pre-Columbian times, and is notable in the cuisines of Colombia and Venezuela. 103 A challenge between two opponents to see who will give up Chicken first. 107 The capital of Iraq. The location of the Battle of Baghdad, also known as the Fall of Baghdad, which was a military invasion of Baghdad Baghdad by the United States that took place in early April 2003, as part of the invasion of Iraq post-9/11 107 An American attorney, politician, and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 44th president of the United Barack Obama States from 2009 to 2017 after winning against Republican John McCain in the 2008 Presidential election 107 Hofstra A private university in Hempstead, New York. Long Island's University largest private university. 107 One of the three towns in Nassau County, New York, United Hempstead, NY States, occupying the southwestern part of the county, in the western half of Long Island 110 Also known as the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, are an international collection of autonomous ACORN community-based organizations that advocated for low- and moderate-income families by working on neighborhood safety, 26

voter registration, health care, affordable housing, and other social issues. 110 An American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay Rays Florida that compete in the Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) East division 110 An annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in North America, contested since 1903 between the American League (AL) champion team and the National League Major League (NL) champion team. The winner of the World Series World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff, and the winning team is awarded the Commissioner's Trophy. As the series is played during the fall season in North America, it is sometimes referred to as the Fall Classic. 111 Phoenix The capital and most populous city in Arizona

Various Scab Derogatory term for someone who crosses the strike line

Facilitation prompts

• How do the scenes with Jason, Chris and Evan bookmark this play? (Act I, scene I / Act II, scene vii) • If this play was produced in 2020, how would the audience react? What similarities could they gather? How might it effect the upcoming election? • The play ends before the Obama administration comes into effect, yet how might these character’s future’s change? • How does the significance of one’s race change throughout the play? Remember, the ethnicity is made mostly of German, African, Italian, and Columbian decent. (Act II, scenes v and vi) o How does this play’s use of race reflect our own time period roughly ten years past 2008? • Is there any room to understand the actions/greed shown by the Olstead plant? (Act I, scene ii-Act II, scene iv) • What thoughts are generated by Jason’s tattoos? Is there any room for sympathy or does the fact that he currently has white supremist markings forever demonize his character? (Act I, scene i)

Annotated Bibliography

“About.” LYNN NOTTAGE, www.lynnnottage.com/about.html.

Nottage’s website biography recounts the playwright’s career without revealing any personal details. The biography pays special attention to highlight the playwright’s professional achievements. There is a condensed list of her past dramatic works and which awards she has won. Nottage’s cinematic contributions are briefly detailed with emphasis on her co-founder production company Market Road Films and her Netflix series She’s Gotta Have It. The biography lists Nottage’s many awards and honors.

Billington, Michael. “Sweat Review – Breathtaking Drama about Life in the American Rustbelt.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 20 Dec. 2018, www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/dec/20/sweat-review-donmar-warehouse-lynn-nottage.

In a review of the Dormar Warehouse’s production of Sweat, writer Michael Billington calls the play a show of the “anger and despair that helped fuel the election of Donald Trump […and] The sense of personal betrayal is exacerbated when it is left to Cynthia to reveal that the firm plans to ask everyone to take a 60% pay cut to save the plant. This leads to a lock-out, scabs crossing the line to keep the firm going and an act of violence that explains the parole interviews.” Billington praises set design and the superlative acting which reveals how everyone is blighted by a factory town’s decline. “I can’t think of any recent play that tells us so much, and so vividly, about the state of the union.”

Brantley, Ben. “Review: 'Sweat' Imagines the Local Bar as a Caldron.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 27 Mar. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/03/26/theater/sweat-review- broadway.html.

Writer Ben Brantley reviews the Broadway production of Sweat and considers: “it is foolish to underestimate the anger in places like these, as the most recent presidential election confirmed. Though it takes place in 2000 and 2008, and one of its characters swears he will never vote again, “Sweat” is the first work from a major American playwright to summon, with empathy and without judgment, the nationwide anxiety that helped put Donald J. Trump in the White House.” Brantley considers that the effect of Nottage’s intensive research could be a tad too much and real and wishes the play had more of a “rich eloquence in […] inarticulateness.”

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Reading.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/place/Reading-Pennsylvania.

This article provides a basic historical recounting of the Reading city with particular interest in the early stages of the city: “Laid out in 1748 by Nicholas Scull and William Parsons on land owned by Thomas and Richard Penn (sons of 29

William Penn, Pennsylvania’s founder), it was built around Penn Common, a large open square, and named for the hometown of the Penn family in Berkshire, England.” There is a brief mention of a hosiery industry that Nottage uses in creating the fictional Dixon’s Hosieries. The article does not provide much information that I can relate to Nottage’s own series of interviews that influenced Sweat.

Cussen, Mark P. “The History of Unions in the United States.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 2 Apr. 2019, www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0113/the-history-of-unions-in-the- united-states.aspx.

This article for the Investopedia website by Mark Cussen gives a comprehensive history of labor unions in the United States as being nearly as old as the country itself. The article gives informative dates on notable labor union foundations and legislation that has both helped and hurt the growth of labor unions. I found the article to skim over the child-labor era too briefly and only does not go too in- depth on the negative views of labor unions in America. It is interesting how the unions have aided and, personally, unaided in our country’s recent political landscape.

Fottrell, Quentin. “Lynn Nottage on 'Sweat,' Her Broadway Play about Factory Workers in Trump's America.” MarketWatch, 4 May 2017, www.marketwatch.com/story/pulitzer- prize-winning-author-on-sweat-her-broadway-play-about-trumps-america-2017-03-20.

Quentin Fottrell discusses how the play Sweat “chronicles a dramatic couple of years in the life of these rural, blue collar workers, many of whom have worked in the local factory for generations. These are the people referred to by President Trump as the “forgotten people.” Their children expect jobs there, too” before turning to interviewing Nottage herself about the experience of writing her play and how the reaction the citizens (many of whom would have learned toward Bernie if he had won the primary) of Reading, PA. had upon seeming the production. The two also discuss how drug addiction has grown in Reading after work injury and the rise of industry.

Jones, Chris. “'Sweat' Is Lynn Nottage's New Broadway Play about Working-Class Frustrations.” Chicagotribune.com, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2019, www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/sc-sweat-broadway-review-ent-0327- 20170326-column.html.

Chris Jones reviews the Broadway production of Sweat as being ultimately about “our tendency, when knocked down by our perennial inability to read the future, especially when we don't like what we usually know is coming, to lash out at all the wrong people.” Jones calls the play’s cast the reason for its success and categorizes Nottage’s work as being “a schematic socialist drama […] that clearly decided in advance what it wanted to say about the state of the nation.” Lastly, 30

Jones compares the play to Brian Alexander's book "Glass House" which explores the effects of how venture capitalism on a once-thriving Ohio town.

Nottage, Lynn. Sweat.

“Nottage, Lynn.” Contemporary Black Biography, Encyclopedia.com, 2019, www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/nottage-lynn-1964.

This article gives an in-depth examination into the life and theatrical career of Lynn Nottage up to the performance of Ruined, thus does not discuss her most famous work Sweat or her current projects. The article summarizes Nottage's plays as “noted for their depth of research and their capacity for bringing characters alive in a specific time and place, differ widely from one another as the playwright has consistently explored new settings and techniques.” Little is touched on concerning Nottage’s childhood yet reveals interesting information about Nottage’s push to write plays being influenced by sitting in the kitchen with her maternal figures who all had stories to tell.

Schulman, Michael. “The First Theatrical Landmark of the Trump Era.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 9 July 2019, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/27/the-first-theatrical- landmark-of-the-trump-era.

Schulman references Nottage’s growth as a playwright from her humble roots and childhood in Brooklyn to her influence from playwright Paula Vogel and through her days at Yale and how her mother’s death from Lou Gerick’s disease affected her work. Schulman considers Sweat to be an accidental insight into America’s political state. He also considers the play to be the first landmark play during the Trump administration that reflects how the country has unraveled. Schulman praises Nottage’s intense research as being a major factor in her success.

Schwartz, Jonas. “Working-Class Values and the American Dream Are on the Line in Sweat.” TheaterMania, 10 Sept. 2018, www.theatermania.com/los-angeles-theater/reviews/lynnnottage-sweat-mark-taper-forum_86353.html.

Jonas Schwarts reviews the Mark Taper Forum production of Sweat and says the play “exposes the collapse of the American working class in the new millennium. When backed up against the wall and left with neither income nor hope, people sink into racism almost by reflex. The ramifications of humanity's anger hangs over the play, yet Nottage hints at the power of forgiveness and redemption.” Schwartz praises the set and costume design, the use of television screens in documenting the fall of the American economy, as well as the fight choreography. However, Schwartz states that Sweat “leaves the audience feeling more like they've watched an extended soapbox speech rather than having spent time in the flesh-and-blood lives of its characters.” 31

Stasio, Marilyn. “Off Broadway Review: Lynn Nottage's 'Sweat'.” Variety, 24 Mar. 2017, variety.com/2016/legit/reviews/sweat-review-lynn-nottage-1201907656/.

Marilyn Stasio reviews the Public Theatre’s production of Sweat as going “where few playwrights have dared to go — into the heart of working-class America. Her insightfully observed characters all went to the same schools, work at the same factory, drink at the same bar, and are going to hell in the same hand basket. Their jobs, their community, and their way of life are doomed, in director Kate Whoriskey’s mercilessly realistic production, although no one seems to have gotten the message yet.” Stasio praises Nottage’s extensive use of interviews as being the basis for such “solid character work and stretches of realistic dialogue” that gives a voice to a forgotten America.