←Recommendations of PARTNER OF —

A powerful exploration of the generational trauma inflicted by one of the least acknowledged aspects of the ugliest stains on our country's history. Perfectly weaved dialogue builds tension, frustration, and grief as the two adult characters attempt to prepare a child to serve as the next drop in a slowly darkening pool of history. Where Hamilton celebrates the bombastic highs of the founding fathers and the revolution, this piece peels back the bravado to show who those men truly were, and what they did to those less fortunate.

Intense, intimate, and altogether important. A 10-minute play that packs a punch.

Wow. An important piece about an under-discussed moment in history with haunting, realistic dialogue. A haunting story of generational trauma and legacy.

By juxtaposing the young Sally Hemmings' innocence to the necessary preparations her mother makes to ready her daughter for Mr. Jefferson, Racheael Carnes makes her audience feel what has been hidden from history for too long. Not for the faint of heart, this short little play burns long after the last word.

This 10-minute play is a clear-eyed, unsentimental view of early American history as lived by three Black women.

All three women of "Partner Of --" have strong points of view, but it's 14-year-old Sally Hemmings' transformation that struck me. Hemmings starts as a wide-eyed child excited about traveling to Paris, but loses her innocence as she becomes aware of what is expected of her during the visit and beyond.

Rachael Carnes' short play more than deserves the many productions it has received. I hope it will continue to be produced even more and across continents.

Gorgeously written without glossing over historical truths, Carnes' piece is a masterclass of symbolism in just 10 pages. The play also has a wonderful pace and cadence in the interweaving of the three voices. As a side-note, I was also really struck by the impressions Carnes gives us through her stage directions - 'beaten down with dust,' 'preening her daughter's clothes' - which really drew me in from the first few paragraphs. Highly recommend!

I had the pleasure and privilege of viewing a recent Zoom performance of this powerful and thought-provoking play. It's a revelatory slice of American history, with three great roles for female actors of color.

A powerful tale of patriarchy and a history lesson of a circumstance that was all too common. Well done.

In "Hamilton" Thomas Jefferson asks "What'd I Miss?" In "Partner Of —" Rachael Carnes provides a poignant answer, giving voice to three women silenced by history.

WOW this is an intense play, but well done about a tough subject matter.