You should look at the
first group of monologues in Fires in the
Mirror as an introduction to the play. Since this is more of a documentary
than anything else it’s introduction should be treated as such. The subject
matter of the introductory monologues is an insight to the values and views of
two different groups; Hassidic Jews and African Americans. These testimonials
give us clarity on how the two different groups view things. It sets the tone
for the play and allows the viewer to have an understanding of these groups.
This understanding is necessary because of the event this play is about. The
Crown Heights Riots were a terrible incident that to an outside viewer with no
inside information would look upon it with a biased ignorance. Granted, the
testimonials concerning the riots specifically do a good job of explaining the
events from both sides involved, the introductory monologues go deeper. It
allows the viewer to step back and take a view of the entire world through the
eyes of these groups. It doesn’t necessarily explain or justify the behavior of
the parties involved in the riots, but it gives the viewer a chance to have an
understanding of the groups involved as a whole. Without this introduction the
viewer will have less of an understanding of these groups and will be crippled
by this ignorance to understand the story of the riots.
I like that you look at the beginning as a documentary! Never thought of it truly like that, but I couldn't agree with you more. I agree that it shows the values and views back then of these two different groups. Yet, they are so similar because they are both just people. It does let us step into the world back then and really see what was going on and not just specifically at The Riots which was a very cool take on the play! Smith's choice of doing this was an incredibly good one, I think.
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