Bee-luther-hatchee by Thomas Gibbons

"A powerful, provocative piece of theatrical writing. You want to run down the street twisting people's arms to see it."

"An artful, intelligent and fascinating mystery exploring the nature of art, the boundaries of race and the ownership of personal history...honest and engrossing theatre, the kind that forces you to think what you would say as you're waiting in suspense for the next reply."

"In our world of hot-button topics and uncivil discourse, it's rare that you get to hear an eloquent, complex argument where the sides are so evenly matched that you keep changing your mind about who's "right." It's even more unusual to see such an argument laid out in a contemporary drama with well-rounded characters who are more than authorial mouthpieces. The combination makes Thomas Gibbons' Bee-luther-hatchee...a powerful, provocative piece of theatrical writing. You want to run down the street twisting people's arms to see it... Poetic and subtle, asking penetrating questions without simple answers...one of the best plays of the season. It deserves a large audience."

"A brilliant, thought-provoking piece of theatre ... one of the most satisfying evenings of theatre one could ever hope for... The Thomas Gibbons script is right on the mark. For one of the most thought-provoking evenings you'll ever spend in the theatre, don't miss Bee-Luther-Hatchee."

"Thomas Gibbons' play shoots into linguistic high gear. The plot takes a stunning turn as the characters address themselves to the play's real subject: the question of identity, of how we know who anybody really is. Or even if we do ... the play offers plenty to think about, lacing reason with passion."

"The compelling drama takes you on a journey that leads not to resolution, but to a springboard for discussion... Powerful without being obvious, this bittersweet story will leave you in thought long after the curtain comes down."

"This is a beautiful play; one that is so distinctly American in its dealing with the issues of race and prejudice, of outrage and good intentions, and, of course, the craft of writing, the world of publishing and the baggage of celebrity. I commend Mr. Gibbons (a white Northerner) for tackling all of these subjects in so simple and direct a manner, his two major accomplishments being his refusal to settle for a neat ending and in his creation of Shelita herself: an attractive, intelligent woman but also a flawed, vulnerable human being who, in the end, sees the world in black and white as all too many of us do."

"Playwright Thomas Gibbons' words breathe life into a drama that is bound to leave the audience thinking about it well after the curtain falls."

"Gibbons poses lots of intriguing questions (and no easy answers) in this fascinating literary puzzle about race, identity and the perplexing problems that can come with success."

"Thomas Gibbons' Bee-luther-hatchee weaves its spell slowly, although it is obvious from the play's evocative first line that a fine, thoughtful writer is at work."

"At its most literal, Bee-luther-hatchee is a play about words and about the myriad meanings behind words... This script -- which at its most ambitious is nothing less than a deconstruction of race relations -- has set for itself a huge task. Although some viewers may be frustrated by its refusal to offer clear-cut answers, at least Gibbons cannot be faulted for not having asked the questions. Bee-luther-hatchee is informed by the sincerity of conscience."