Customer Reviews

The Amen Corner: A Play

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What begins as a family drama about a determined pastor and single mother, whose church, congregation and son are her whole life evolves into an amazing and painful story of love, reconciliation and hypocrisy.
Margaret Alexander is the without-a-doubt leader of her parish, her colleagues, the elders of the church are her agreeable assistants, with the truth of Christ her driving force. But a past that proves more human and relevent than the elders can recognize exposes her as less than pure, and the hypocrisy of spiritual judgement rears its ugly head.
I found the beginning of the play slow, dry and ordinary. Though after reading the notes from Baldwin which open the edition I had I was awoken to the depth of the story, and ultimately was captivated by the honesty and beauty of the play. I pulled this from the library shelf having known about Baldwin but never read him. I now return it to the library with some understanding of the quality of writer and person he was, and look forward to reading his other work.

James Baldwin does an amazing job with the Amen Corner. This and the plays of August Wilson are by far some of the greatest plays I've read in Black Theater. I felt like I was sitting right there in the congregation watching this play unfold. This play delivers a strong message with unforgetable and dimensional characters, and an intriguing plot that will keep you wanting more. There's nothing like reading a good piece of literature with a lifetime and lasting effect. Thumbs up for James Baldwin and the Amen Corner! Amen! Hallelujah...say it again for Baldwin!!!

The Amen Corner was a very well written play about a woman who leaves her husband and tries to start a new life with her son as a minister of an all black church. Eventually she has to face her past and her long lost husband. The Amen Corner is a very compelling play with fleshed out characters that many people find believable and can relate to. I liked The Amen Corner because it reflected real life where there is not always a happy ending.

The main characters are Sister Boxer, Brother Boxer, Sister Jackson, Sister Moore, Odessa, Margaret, Luke, and David. What I really liked about the play was the dialect. The wording really did fit in very good. It was also a very down to earth play. Some of the problems that the main characters faced were every day problems, for instance, David (Margaret's boy) came home drunk when he was so into church (at least that is what his mom thought), and Margaret is a holy person and her husband is a very non believer of the such. Luke was just a person who simply did what made him feel comfortable. All in all, it was a good play and it kept my attention at all times. there were a few things that I didn't like but I will just keep my personal opinions to myself.

THIS BOOK WAS VERY TRUE TO THE ACTIONS, AND FEELINGS OF A RELIGIOUS LEADER. TO SHOW THAT JUST LIKE US THEY HAVE PROBLEMS AND ARE HUMAN ALSO. VERY BLUNT, AND STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. IT SPEAKS TO THE SOUL!

The best play I have ever read was The Amen Corner. James Baldwin's first drama would speak to anyone who can read and understand what was happening in the late 50s. If I lived back then and was black, I would have thought things were very unfair. For example, can you imagine the protagonist, Margaret Alexander, not being able to call an ambulance when she is bleeding to death and about to lose her baby, because she is black? Baldwin does an excellent job of portraying the issues black people faced in and out the church in Harlem. I recommend this play to anyone of any color.

The main characters are Sister Boxer, Brother Boxer, Sister Jackson, Sister Moore, Odessa, Margaret, Luke, and David. What I really liked about the play was the dialect. The wording really did fit in very good. It was also a very down to earth play. Some of the problems that the main characters faced were every day problems, for instance, David (Margaret's boy) came home drunk when he was so into church (at least that is what his mom thought), and Margaret is a holy person and her husband is a very non believer of the such. Luke was just a person who simply did what made him feel comfortable. All in all, it was a good play and it kept my attention at all times. there were a few things that I didn't like but I will just keep my personal opinions to myself.

A story about the life of a black family that tells about the many struggles of a black female preacher who separated with her husband when her son was young. With the help of her freinds she tries to set her son on a good path, but with many different suprises the whole story changes. I think this is a good book for people that like drama. My literature class read this story, and I liked it, but many people fell asleep. I think many people would enjoy reading this book

" It was bright and sunny but cloudy at times."

I think The Amen Corner is a good play, because it's about everyday people. I think every family can relate to the family in Balwin's 1964 Broadway Hit--The Amen Corner. Many people have drinking problems of some sort. Additionally, many people can relate to the hardships of losing someone you love. Reading this play may help you focus on a relationship with God.