Sweat -- by Lynn Nottage (2017)

Description
Lynn Nottage is the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama more than once. What an accomplishment! This play revolves around the fallout blue-collar workers in Reading, Pennsylvania experience as the economy crashes. Tracey and Cynthia both vie for the same promotion to a management position at their factory; Tracey believes Cynthia receives the promotion simply due to her African-American heritage. Brucie, Cynthia's husband, responds to his unemployment by taking drugs. Oscar, the custodian at the bar, receives severe backlash for pursuing the new job opportunities at the factory which are only advertised to Spanish-speakers. Stan, the bartender, watches the whole ordeal unfold and tries to deescalate the emotions as best he can. Ultimately, Tracey's son Jason and Cynthia's son Chris engage in a punishable act that will haunt them, but perhaps lead them into a more empathetic future.

Here is a CBS special on the show.

The show did not win the 2017 Tony Award for Best Play.

The Pulitzer website denotes the play's win "for a nuanced yet powerful drama that reminds audiences of the stacked deck still facing workers searching for the American dream."
Candid Reactions

• The characters are diverse in their ages and ethnic backgrounds. 
• The setting for this play is crucial. 
• Langston Hughes' poem sets up the thematic conflicts nicely. 
• Are all of the factual tidbits included at the start of each scene projected some place for the audience during the play? Or is this just for the actors and readers?
• I don't think I've read many racial slurs in these plays. That one caught me off guard. 
• Ummm, how does an actor say, " . . . !" (9)?
• Nottage sneaks in the word "sweat" into the play several times. She wins the award for most times the title appears in the play. 
• Chris struggles as an African-American in today's society. He remarks, "I don't got s*** to say to anyone, and nobody got s*** to say to me" (10). 
• Nottage riffs on the "immediacy-effect" of change in America -- major economic changes can happen in the blink of an eye. 
• Stan opines, "You could wake up tomorrow and all your jobs are in Mexico" (20). His comment reflects many persons' thoughts about our economy. 
• What is it with the word "cripple" with playwrights?
• Tracey believes, "Management is for them. Not us" (24). Blue-collar workers and white-collar workers are stuck in their vocations, according to Tracey. 
• Stan's indictment of the upper-class resonates with a major portion of modern America: "And the problem is they don't want to get their feet dirty, their diplomas soiled with sweat . . . or understand the real cost, the human cost of making their s***ty product" (26). 
• Jason is so racist, like his mother. It's odd that Jason/Chris and Tracey/Cynthia were ever close. 
• The theme of betrayal is prevalent in the show. 
• Stan's commentary on his disability is frustrating. 
• It took me quite a time to realize how all of the characters were related. 
• Tracey's thoughts on Affirmative Action is surprisingly reflective of many people's thoughts. 
• Tracey explains to Oscar, "I work there and my son works there. It's that kinda shop. Always been" (48). I can just hear someone saying this to Nottage in an interview. 
• The fallout between Tracey and Cynthia is hard to watch. 
• The dialogue is sparingly poetic. Here is one of the rare gems when Jessie explains why she never traveled the world: "Started working, met Dan, I guess I got caught in the riptide, couldn't get back to shore. That's how it goes" (56).
• The birthday squabbles remind me of Rabbit Hole. 
• UH-OH. ACT TWO. WHY, TRACEY!?!
• BUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH CHRIS AND JASON? What a tease!
• I feel bad for Cynthia. 
• Jason yearns for direct communication. 
• Tracey's dramatic statements reflect the passion behind a whole people. 
• I can never read the word "puncture" now without thinking of this play . . . 
• Identity is another topic dissected in the play. 
• Brucie is kinda annoying, but plays an important role. He's like the opposite of the druggie caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. 
• Oscar comments, "I'm not disrespectin' you. I'm just trying to get paid, that's all" (92). This comment must resonate. 
• Tracey's argument with Oscar is a snapshot of racial tension. She views his employment as an attack on her history. She says, "You better believe it's personal . . . for me" (94). 
• Stan makes several bold statements. One includes: "Sometimes I think we forget that we're meant to pick up and go when the well runs dry. Our ancestors knew that" (96). 
• Jason questions the role of ethnic background in employment. His racist question: "A green card that gives him the right to s*** on everything we worked for?" (101)
• The fact that they won't let Oscar leave is symbolic. 
• THAT WAS A FULL-ON FIGHT!
• Shame bubbles to the surface as an important topic near the end, which implies the important topic of pride. 
• The final scene is a completely masterful bow tied to this piece. It might be the best final scene of the plays I've read so far.   

Top Two Aspects/Reasons for Winning
1. Research for Reflection
Lynn Nottage interviewed people for hours and developed a portrait of an entire culture. The portrait is faithful to its subject -- no glamorizing, caricaturing, sketching . . . it is a full portrait. Nottage managed to encompass a culture war sparked by economic turmoil. The story reflects the civil infighting of Americans during rough economic times. Her research serves as both a mirror and warning. Ultimately, the show reminds Americans that the US will only function by cooperation, unification, and forgiveness.

2. Plotting
The plot is simple, but highly engaging. Each character tries to calculate their survival and coping mechanisms.  

Classroom Implications
Well, the language is absolutely atrocious, so I probably wouldn't argue for its curricular inclusion. The work could work as a study in character and theme. I know some schools read Storming Heaven, and this text could be an interesting paired text regarding union/labor battles.

Personal Takeaway
Humans must value humanity or suffer the consequences.

Ranking

	Dialogue	Characters	Plot/Conflict	Symbol/Literary Devices	Overall Enjoyment	TOTAL SCORE 8.5
0	Unfollowable; unrealistic; diction does not match character	Undeveloped; does not reflect humanity	Not engaging; predictable; reader can step away from text because it isn’t gripping	Devices are apparent for cleverness and do not enhance the story	Reader has no interest in re-reading play
1	Not consistently realistic	Well-developed; most depictions reflect humanity	Semi-engaging; some unnecessary plot-points	Devices somewhat enhance story (1)	Reader would re-read with pleasure and reminded of work
2	Realistic; connotative; diction matches characters (2)	Fully-developed; depictions reflect humanity (2)	Engaging; unique; reader finds it impossible to put down text because the conflict is so gripping! (1.75)	Devices seamlessly enhance the story and provide rich interpretation	Reader would re-read the play on own volition, enthusiastically(1.75)