The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition

by Donnetta Lavinia Grays

In the fall of 2001 the air has a marked change in New York City. Dana – a naïve yet self-righteous art critic - and her sports loving partner Kerri struggle to reconnect through its weight. This freshly weighted air, by contrast, provides new life for Naomi – an iconic visual artist - who, after years in the business, finally experiences the throes of financial success just as a debilitating disease threatens...

In the fall of 2001 the air has a marked change in New York City. Dana – a naïve yet self-righteous art critic - and her sports loving partner Kerri struggle to reconnect through its weight. This freshly weighted air, by contrast, provides new life for Naomi – an iconic visual artist - who, after years in the business, finally experiences the throes of financial success just as a debilitating disease threatens both that success and her legacy. When Dana questions Naomi’s artistic integrity the stage is set for a sexy, emotional and intellectual game of football between critic and artist. Secrets are revealed, beliefs are shattered, hearts are broken and art is made in this fast-paced drama that explores loss and sacrifice.

read more
  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition by Donnetta Lavinia Grays
    “

    Such a great play about the role of artist and critic and how each need each other. This play is a true gift for actors that are anxious to dig into complex and multilayered women. Hope this play gets productions soon.

    Such a great play about the role of artist and critic and how each need each other. This play is a true gift for actors that are anxious to dig into complex and multilayered women. Hope this play gets productions soon.

    ”
  • Gina Femia: The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition by Donnetta Lavinia Grays
    “

    A remarkable play, expertly paralleling disparate worlds to create a meaningful comment on humanity. I hope to see this play produced in the near future.

    A remarkable play, expertly paralleling disparate worlds to create a meaningful comment on humanity. I hope to see this play produced in the near future.

    ”
  • Eugene O'Neill Theater Center: The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition by Donnetta Lavinia Grays
    “

    It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Donnetta Lavinia Grays and their play The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition as a finalist for our 2013 National Playwrights Conference. The play rose through a competitive, anonymous, multileveled selection process that took nearly nine months to execute. As one finalist out of hundreds of submissions, the strength of this play’s writing has allowed this work to prosper in such a competitive selection process.

    It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Donnetta Lavinia Grays and their play The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition as a finalist for our 2013 National Playwrights Conference. The play rose through a competitive, anonymous, multileveled selection process that took nearly nine months to execute. As one finalist out of hundreds of submissions, the strength of this play’s writing has allowed this work to prosper in such a competitive selection process.

    ”

Character Information

  • Naomi
    A visual artist.
    40s-50s
    Non-white
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
  • Dana
    An art critic
    20s-30s
    Non-white
    female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Kerri
    Dana's wife
    20s-30s
    Non-white
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Gretchen
    Gallery owner
    40s-60s
    Any
    female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Workshop, WP Theater Pipeline Festival, 2018
  • Reading, Pure Theater Company, 2015
  • Reading, the claque, 2014
  • Workshop, terraNova Collective, 2013
  • Reading, TOSOS, 2012
  • Reading, Coyote REP, 2012

Production History

  • Professional, Theatre Rhinoceros, 2021

Awards