The place is South Africa, during the time of apartheid. A young white man, referred to as Master Harold, has a tense relationship with his black servants, Sam and Willie. The play is called Master Harold...and the Boys, and it’s rooted in the real life experiences of playwright Athol Fugard.
On Friday, February 6, the Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville launches a new production of Master Harold...and the Boys. In advance of the opening, WUOT All Things Considered host Brandon Hollingsworth spoke with the three stars, Rico Bruce Wade and Bryant Bentley – the "boys" – and Eric Sorrels, the “master Harold” of the title.
Eric, Rico and Bryant talk about what their roles mean to them, how they prepared for the demands of the play, and what Master Harold still says about our conversations around the subject of race in 21st century America.