White Party

by Brent Askari

John and Laura Baron throw their annual White Party -- however, when none of their guests arrive, they grow confused and angry. Feeling like victims and wondering why this is happening to them, John and Laura harbor suspicions toward Mary, the African-American cook; Nando, the Hispanic bartender; and Hank, a Middle Eastern man who shows up even though they didn’t invite him.

John and Laura Baron throw their annual White Party -- however, when none of their guests arrive, they grow confused and angry. Feeling like victims and wondering why this is happening to them, John and Laura harbor suspicions toward Mary, the African-American cook; Nando, the Hispanic bartender; and Hank, a Middle Eastern man who shows up even though they didn’t invite him.

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White Party

Recommended by

  • Ali MacLean: White Party by Brent Askari
    “

    A brilliant send up of the kind of people who say "those people" a lot. A mannered comedy with a facade that begins to crumble, the over-privileged haves throwing the white party in this play begin to suspect that their staff, who are not white, are sabotaging it. Refusing to take responsibility for, well, anything, the wealthy couple melt down as they hold a kangaroo court. Funny, insightful, and dare I say, fun.

    A brilliant send up of the kind of people who say "those people" a lot. A mannered comedy with a facade that begins to crumble, the over-privileged haves throwing the white party in this play begin to suspect that their staff, who are not white, are sabotaging it. Refusing to take responsibility for, well, anything, the wealthy couple melt down as they hold a kangaroo court. Funny, insightful, and dare I say, fun.

    ”
  • Jason Parrish: White Party by Brent Askari
    “

    Brent Askari has captured white fragility at its most hilarious. John and Laura Baron could be ANY wealthy white couple who feel like their world is getting smaller and smaller as the headlines close in on them. Read as part of Florida Rep's 2020 Virtual PlayLab Festival, this play is a really crisp satire that resonated with an audience who has a lot in common with the Barons. WHITE PARTY turns the A.R. Gurney cocktail party play formula on its head with a modern-day unraveling. The characters are rich and the comedy crisp.

    Brent Askari has captured white fragility at its most hilarious. John and Laura Baron could be ANY wealthy white couple who feel like their world is getting smaller and smaller as the headlines close in on them. Read as part of Florida Rep's 2020 Virtual PlayLab Festival, this play is a really crisp satire that resonated with an audience who has a lot in common with the Barons. WHITE PARTY turns the A.R. Gurney cocktail party play formula on its head with a modern-day unraveling. The characters are rich and the comedy crisp.

    ”

Development History

  • Reading, Palm Beach Dramaworks, 2020
  • Reading, Ensemble Studio Theatre of Los Angeles, 2019

Awards

  • Semi-Finalist
    Playpenn
    2019
  • Ashland New Plays Festival
    Finalist
    2019
  • O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
    Semi-Finalist
    2019
  • Bay Area Playwrights Festival
    Finalist
    2019