"Brothers From The Bottom"

"Brothers from The Bottom" is a play that peels away the layers of controversy surrounding gentrification to reveal a lot of uncomfortable truths. The play is written and directed by Jackie Alexander. It opened October 14th at the in and runs through December 19th, 2010.

Broach the topic of gentrification in any circle today, and you're almost certain to strike a chord. It is a polarizing topic. And where whites grow silent around the topic in public, blacks are aroused, and not always on the same side of the argument.

Thankfully, in "Brothers From The Bottom," the topic is explored with a naturalness that is not force-fed, saving us a browbeating or an amen choir. Instead, the audience becomes the jurors who silently adjudicate for two brothers who disagree on how new development efforts will positively or negatively affect their poor neighborhood. The play is set in "The Bottom," a section of New Orleans that, consequently, is poor and still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

It is a contemporary African-American story that deals with loss, when the one thing you can claim ownership of— your home— is threatened. The story's poignancy is raised by its timing and location, in post-Katrina New Orleans where redevelopment efforts are aggressive and are viewed by the rest of the world largely through a positive lens.

The brothers are played by Warner Miller as Trey, the successful one who left the ghetto as soon as his feet and financial independence would allow, and Nicoye Banks as Chris, the older brother who stayed home. The two almost come to blows over what Trey welcomes as urban revitalization, while the other sees it is a racial power play against the poor and disenfranchised. Both characters offer outstanding arguments on each side.

But the line is fuzzy when Trey, a lawyer, proves it is not always a black-or-white issue, especially since he and his business partner hope to lead the project.

"It's going to happen," insists Trey. "So why not let it be us that profit?" Besides his monetary pursuit, Trey is tired of the destitution and staggering violence he experienced in the neighborhood while growing up, including witnessing the murder of their mother by a crackhead.

But Chris, the older brother, cares deeply about preserving the culture of his neighborhood and favors the familiarity of the community. He says, rather than abandon the neighborhood to make way for new homeowners, why not convince its poor residents to hold on to their property and reap any future financial benefits?

One of the play's strong points is the honest writing. The characters—both brothers, their wives, Malika, played by Joy Hooper, Lindsey, played by Anja Lee and Trey's business partner, James, played by Thaddeus Daniels-- have real conversations. Their dialogue takes believable turns, and their point-of-views are intelligent and thoughtful. Most importantly, the play's subject matter is turned over and examined from virtually every angle, yet never overtakes the characters; each character firmly handles the topic in their own way, while remaining real and relatable.

As a New Orleans native, playwright Jackie Alexander, does a great job in capturing the mood and anxieties of this subject matter at such a critical time in history. He uses the story of "Brothers From The Bottom" to build depth and context around a topic that often evokes extreme, largely one-dimensional arguments.

But through the relationships of Mr. Alexander's characters, you begin to understand just how varied and layered are the arguments behind gentrification. There's even relief when you realize that you do not have to choose sides, but instead, just listen.

"Brothers From The Bottom" runs on Thursdays at 8pm, $15, Fridays at 8pm, $20, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, $25, and Sundays at 4pm, $25. Discounts are available for seniors, children and groups. For reservations, call: 718-636-0918 x 12.
Mention "Restoration Email" and receive $5.00 off of your ticket.