From Chicago Sun-Times · · 2m
The Humanities play misses campus culture wars
Play 'The Humanities' avoids real campus debates despite focusing on them.
In brief
Play 'The Humanities' avoids real campus debates despite focusing on them. Zayd Ayers Dohrn's play 'The Humanities' fails to address campus culture wars it claims to explore, instead focusing on the backlash of inviting a problematic speaker. Originally reported by Chicago Sun-Times.
Play 'The Humanities' misses campus culture wars
Zayd Ayers Dohrn's new play 'The Humanities' premieres at Victory Gardens Theater but avoids examining campus culture wars it claims to explore.
Play premieres after Charlie Kirk's death
The play opens days after Charlie Kirk's one-year death anniversary and weeks after Milo Yiannopoulos was deported.
Problematic speaker Luka invited
Luka, a former student of professor Martin, is invited to speak at fictional Lincoln University despite being a problematic speaker.
Luka's ideology unclear
The play does not explicitly state Luka's ideology or explain why he became a provocateur.
University faces backlash
The university conducts damage control as Luka's speech lands days before its $2.5 billion capital campaign.
Students protest
Students prepare for mass protests that lead to violence and arrests.
Luka's speech weak
Luka argues he's 'not a white supremacist' but a 'western supremacist' who believes in democracy, yet his speech is too tepid to cause protests.
Campus culture war themes
The play addresses accusations that colleges indoctrinate students, contribute to culture wars, and no longer serve as public squares for debate.
Theater Wit's approach
Theater Wit staged 'The Ally' where a problematic speaker argues for Israel, countered by a Palestinian student from Gaza.
Steve Pickering's role
Steve Pickering, a Chicago theater veteran, plays the professor who invites Luka to speak, displaying strong character work.
Jonas and Margot's relationship
Jonas, an Ivy League student, and Margot, an art professor, engage in a love triangle with Martin, the professor.
Director Edward Torres
Director Edward Torres excels in scenes involving Jonas, Martin, and Margot, creating compelling dynamics.
Play misses the mark
Dohrn's play fails to address real campus culture wars despite being written in 2019 and premiering in 2026.
What happens next
The play's failure to engage with real campus culture wars leaves it feeling hollow for audiences experiencing these issues.
What it means
Zayd Ayers Dohrn's play 'The Humanities' fails to address campus culture wars it claims to explore, instead focusing on the backlash of inviting a problematic speaker.
