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39 pages 1 hour read

Clybourne Park

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2010

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Book Brief

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Bruce Norris

Clybourne Park

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2010
Book Details
Pages

210

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Chicago, Illinois • 1950s

Publication Year

2010

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

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

Reviews & Readership

4.0

3,884 ratings

66%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

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.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Clybourne Park?

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.

4.0

3,884 ratings

66%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

Character List

Bev

A good-natured white woman in her 40s, who strives to manage the grief from her son's death. She is hospitable and open-minded toward the neighborhood's changes.

A white man in his late 40s dealing with depression following his son's suicide. His disillusionment with the community and grief preoccupy him.

A black woman in her 30s, who works as Russ and Bev's maid. She is polite, professional, and largely keeps her opinions to herself at work.

Karl is a white man in his 30s, with a tendency to meddle in community affairs, while his wife, Betsy, is pregnant and hearing impaired.

A well-intentioned white clergyman in his late 20s, attempting to offer emotional support to Russ.

A white couple in their 30s, intending to rebuild and expand a house in the neighborhood. Their actions stir responses regarding race and gentrification.

A black couple in their 30s concerned about gentrification in their neighborhood. Lena is more assertive, while Kevin is initially more laid-back.

Russ and Bev's son, a white man in his 20s, who served in the military and struggled after returning to civilian life.

Kathy is linked to the Lindners as their daughter and is a lawyer for Steve and Lindsey. Tom is Kevin and Lena's lawyer, trying to maintain order in discussions.

Francine's husband, a black man in his 30s, who offers assistance to Russ and Bev and acts as a peacemaker.

A tactless white construction worker in his late 40s who disruptively engages with others during the house's renovations.

Book Details
Pages

210

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Chicago, Illinois • 1950s

Publication Year

2010

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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