39 pages • 1 hour read
210
Play • Fiction
Chicago, Illinois • 1950s
2010
Adult
18+ years
Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris explores the events before and after Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, focusing on the same house in Chicago's evolving Clybourne Park neighborhood. Act One in 1959 features Russ and Bev selling their home to the Younger family amidst racial tension. Act Two, set in 2009, involves a dispute between new white homeowners and the predominantly Black housing association, highlighting issues of gentrification and racial misunderstandings. The play addresses themes of race, class, gender, and other forms of marginalization, such as mental health, and uses dark humor and rapid dialogue to navigate sensitive conversations about identity and urban development.
Dark
Challenging
Humorous
Emotional
Suspenseful
3,884 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Bruce Norris's Clybourne Park masterfully tackles themes of race and real estate over two acts set 50 years apart. Critics praise its sharp wit, strong performances, and poignant social commentary. However, some find its confrontational tone and abrupt shifts in time distracting. Nonetheless, it remains an essential and thought-provoking exploration of cultural and racial tensions.
Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris will captivate readers who appreciate sharp, societal critiques and complex character dynamics, similar to those in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun and Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County. Fans of contemporary dramas exploring race, class, and housing will find it particularly engaging.
3,884 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
210
Play • Fiction
Chicago, Illinois • 1950s
2010
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.