Lillian Brown in “The Oreo Complex.” Photo courtesy of Nu Sass.
Tucked away in a little art gallery on F Street is Nu Sass Productions. Nu Sass is a non profit theatre company striving to “support women and marginalized genders in the arts” and has been doing so for over fourteen years. “The Oreo Complex,” written and performed by Lillian Brown, is an exploration of what it means to be black in a culture built on institutionalized racism. Nu Sass’s website states that Brown incorporated W.E.B Du Bois’ idea of double consciousness, which can be compared to the psychological phenomenon of the spotlight effect. The difference is double consciousness is not a manifestation of anxiety, but rather a way black people have socially adapted to survive in a white society intent on pigeonholing and breaking them down. Brown uses spoken word poetry, movement, and singing in her piece to paint a picture of what it looks like to be constantly under surveillance.
Brown has crafted an emotional masterpiece and every moment is executed expertly…a sobering tour-de-force and one that everyone should see.
The set of “The Oreo Complex” is simple. It is comprised of a white scrim painted to exude a brick-like texture, with the words “follow the rules” projected onto it over a dozen times. Brown does an excellent job placing the audience squarely in the liminal space of her choosing. We are uncertain where we are in space and time and this works well. It is likely that this choice was made to suggest that we are trapped in a perpetual state of social apathy and Brown is asking us to break the cycle. At the beginning of the show, Brown steps onstage as Oreo Girl in a leotard and is helped into a dress by a stage crew member. The dress is black with white trimmings and Brown made a good choice in choosing a garment to assist in her storytelling rather than distract from it. Though the set and costume is simple, it is extremely effective. The star of the show is the dialogue and Brown doesn’t need any frills or gimmicks to keep the audience engaged. We laugh when she laughs and cry when she cries, and there are several moments during the show when one could hear a pin drop. Brown has crafted an emotional masterpiece and every moment is executed expertly.
The first half of the production is performed in the form of spoken word poetry. Brown as Oreo Girl giggles uncomfortably as she assures the audience that she has figured out many ways to blend in with her white peers. As we move through part one of “The Oreo Complex,” Brown impresses upon us that the term “Oreo,” a word which here means a black person perceived as white on the inside due to specific mannerisms, is yet another micro-aggression existing purely to dehumanize the black community. Oreo Girl proposes that it is dangerous to exist in a society built by and for white people without self imposed boundaries. She explains that the rules projected onto the white scrim prevent her from getting the wrong kind of attention in social situations. For white people, a social faux pas is something that is brushed off or even seen as quirky. But for someone like Oreo Girl, saying the wrong thing or showing too much of herself can be fatal. In the second half, Brown unveils a tapestry depicting some of the countless black people murdered in the name of white supremacy. She doesn’t speak, but simply asks us to act as bystanders as she performs a dance in front of the tapestry. There is a clear note of despair in her movement and she periodically collapses to the floor, giving in to her exhaustion. This piece is followed by a more joyful moment when she sings and speaks to her ancestors. There is a distinct spark of hope after this moment with Brown and she leaves us a short monologue about wanting to relax in public. She wants to be able to be her true self without feeling unsafe, and relaxing is a privilege.
Nu Sass Productions did well in championing Lillian Brown’s “The Oreo Complex.” Originally witnessing Brown’s piece at the Capital Fringe Festival, Nu Sass Productions invited Brown to perform in their space. With a “pay what you can” entrance fee, Washington D.C. is very lucky to be able to host an artist who asks her audience to think as critically as Brown does. With “The Oreo Complex,” Brown’s audience experiences a small fraction of the sort of scrutiny constantly foisted upon the black community as Oreo Girl holds up a mirror to each person in the room. Theater like this is essential in that it explores often unspoken power dynamics, and forces us to confront our implicit bias and the devastating consequences that follow. As one member of Nu Sass said, this show is not yet sold out. In an intimate space like Nu Sass, Lillian Brown’s multi-disciplinary “The Oreo Complex” is a sobering tour-de-force and one that everyone should see.
Running Time: 60 minutes with no intermission.
“The Oreo Complex” runs through June 2, 2023 at Nu Sass Productions, CAOS on F, 923 F St NW Washington D.C. 20011. For tickets and more information, call 315-783-6650 or go to nusass.com.
