African-American Anthony Cohen is not Jewish, and he always wondered why. A rich premise for comedy perhaps, but Patrick & Me sidesteps Woody Allen and instead walks a genealogical path, combining historical skip-tracing with present-day reenactment of his great-great-uncle Patrick Sneed’s abscondence from slavery to freedom. The result is a timewarp experience not to be missed.
Patrick & Me blends suspenseful episodes from Sneed’s life in the Civil War era with Cohen’s attempt to realistically relive an underground railroad trip. In his recreation of Henry Box Brown’s 1849 crate escape from Virginia slavery, Cohen almost kills himself in the process. (Tony, what were you thinking?)
See the show and find out how Cohen escapes from his Houdini-esque wooden box, why Scarlett O’Hara was really cursing Uncle Patrick, and what Cohen did to make Oprah cry.
Running time: 75 minutes
Patrick & Me information and tickets.
