Interracial families, affirmative action, the Confederate flag, racism today compared with racism in the past, hair and penises.
These are just a few of the topics University teacher and visiting artist Mark Cryer addressed with his solo production “99 Questions.”
“99 Questions” — short for “99 questions you’ve always wanted to ask an African American but were too afraid for fear they’d break their foot off in your a**!” — left only a few seats empty in the LSU Music and Dramatic Arts Building’s Theatre 150.
Cryer’s performance featured him talking about his own experiences with racial questions as well as taking on several characters, sometimes accompanied by a member of the diverse audience.
The characters included a black male cab driver, a black female beautician and a white male New Yorker, all of which answered various questions in a conversational tone.
The questions came in the form of videotaped individuals on a projection screen, note cards Cryer would read aloud and an open dialogue at the end of the performance.
Cryer said the purpose of the play and the different characters was to show the different perspectives on race. He said he just wants his audience to be educated and entertained through a positive message.
“Race is America’s dirty little secret,” Cryer said. “Race isn’t something we talk about in this country, and until we start talking about it, we won’t get past it.”
Cryer concluded by challenging his audience to be courageous. He said when people start being courageous, they make a difference.
Eric Little, a theater graduate student, said it was thought provoking for everyone, and believes more shows like “99 Questions” need to happen.
“It was really interesting and much needed,” theater junior Chelsea Marcantel said. “Being in an environment where people can ask questions is the only way we can change.”
Cryer also teaches Introduction to African American Theatre while he is at LSU on sabbatical from his assistant professorship at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y.
Cryer also will appear in Swine Palace’s upcoming “The Laramie Project.”
Another performance of “99 Questions” will take place in Theatre 150 at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The show will conclude on Sunday night.