Author: Albus Wang (ins: @albusw)
Published on: September 14, 2023
Bottom Line: “The Real Black Swann” tells an empowering story of a forgotten Black queer ancestor and how their life can teach us today.
Written and performed by undoubtedly talented Les Kurkendaal-Barrett, The Real Black Swann: Confessions of America’s First Black Drag Queen tells the story of William Dorsey Swann, a Black gay man who wore dresses in 1900s is the first ever queer activist on record. I’m tremendously intrigued by the concept of telling stories of our queer and trans ancestors. Swann’s story is worth being known by more people and definitely carries a lot of potential for storytelling. The parallel between Swann’s experience and Les’ experience, between past and present is innately inspiring.
Walking out of the name theater, I felt educated and empowered. The play is a successful history lesson yet a somewhat flat theatre performance left me wanting more. There are some moments during the play that was vulnerable and touching. When Swann wears a dress for the first time, he felt empowered and free which reminds me of my experience every time I wear a dress as a trans person. When Les is bullied and called names by his classmates because of his skin color, his internalize racism started. Every time Les is pulled over by the police, he has to act in a certain way trying not to be killed. All those moments are worth exploring on a deeper level. However many of them are glossed over which seem like missed opportunities. Les’ story also felt fragmented without a cohesive theme. I was engaged the whole time. However the overall dynamics of the play felt a bit monotonous. I wish that Les’ stories could be presented with more emotional depth and vulnerability.
The play is ambitious in multiple ways. Regarding acting, Les not only plays two characters but also needs to change from one to another in back and forth conversations. The separation between Les and Swann are apparent most of the times with some occasional blur. With minimal scenery, props, and costume, it’s even harder to convince the audience to share the same environment with the characters. Unfortunately, sound and lighting design do not convey the environment fully which results in jarring transitions. The pink fan is an important prop that works as a signifier of Swann. The using of the fan, a clear reference to modern U.S. drag and gay culture, is comedic for a while but gets repetitive as the story proceeds.
Overall, I enjoyed the play. The Real Black Swann carries a lot of potential to be an extraordinary experience. Its cultural significance will be remembered as a milestone of American queer history.
The Real Black Swann: Confessions of America’s First Black Drag Queen runs until September 24, 2023 at Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center(1125 North McCadden Place, Central LA, Los Angeles 90028). You can purchase tickets at https://ci.ovationtix.com/36684/production/1173212