The Brother/Sister Plays

The Brother/Sister Plays is a triptych of plays written by American playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney.

Synopsis

A. In The Red and Brown Water

The main character of In The Red and Brown Water is Oya, a young woman who is a talented track runner. She sacrifices her ambition and a full ride scholarship to state university to stay home with her dying Mother. Oya’s life quickly becomes about relationships. An adoring young man and hard worker with a stutter, Ogun, is in love with Oya, but she is unable to resist the advances of the passionate “bad boy” Shango. Soon, Shango goes to war, and Oya moves in with Ogun. A long time friend, Elegba, visits Oya throughout her narrative and after learning he has fathered a child, Oya realizes that she is unable to have children. She pushes Ogun away at the same time that Shango returns, and shortly after, Oya learns he has impregnated a local girl, Shun. With no career and the inability to live up to societal expectations of being a mother, Oya spirals into madness to the point where she cuts off her ear in order to prove her love to Shango.

B. The Brothers Size

Set a few years later, we meet Ogun’s brother Oshoosi, who has recently been released from prison. Ogun is a hardworking man who does not want to see him go back to jail. He unsuccessfully tries to ground his free-spirited brother, whose only dream is buying a car and driving somewhere far away. While Ogun tries to get Oshoosi on the right track, Elegba, Oshoosi’s prison mate and occasional lover, just wants to have fun. He gifts Oshoosi with a car and the two go for a ride, but Elegba neglects to tell him that he is carrying cocaine in his duffel bag. A power hungry local sheriff discovers Elegba’s cocaine and instead of staying to face charges, Oshoosi runs home to Ogun. Ogun convinces his brother to run away, saying he will deny his brother’s existence when the police arrive. Oshoosi ends up fleeing to Mexico.

C. Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet

Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet is set several years in the future and introduces Elegba’s son, Marcus. Marcus is 16 and after having a dream in which Oshoosi comes to him, he seeks to discover what similarities he has with his recently deceased father. On the journey to learn more about his past, Marcus learns a surprising amount about himself as well. He meets Shua, a young man who has just moved into the area, who forces him to explore his own sexuality.

Productions

A. The Brother Sister Plays

Company	Place	Dates
Company One	Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA	October 28 – December 3, 2011
The McCarter Theatre Company	McCarter Theatre, New Jersey	May 14 - June 21, 2016

B. In the Red and Brown Water

Company	Place	Dates
Young Vic	Young Vic Theatre, London	Oct 9 - Nov 8, 2008
Steppenwolf Theatre Company	Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, IL	Jan 21 - May 23, 2010
The Fountain Theatre	The Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, CA	2012–13 [1]

C. The Brothers Size

Company	Place	Dates
Young Vic	Young Vic Theatre, London	Nov 13 - Dec 12, 2007
The Foundry Theatre	The Public Theatre, NYC	Oct 21 - Dec 20, 2009

D. Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet

Company	Place	Dates
American Conservatory Theater	The Geary Theatre, San Francisco, CA	Oct 29 - Nov 21, 2010
Guthrie Theatre	Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN	Sept 12 - Oct 05, 2014

See also

• Yoruba Americans