Theatrius
  • Now Playing
  • All Reviews
  • Writers
  • Reflections
  • Millennial Notes
  • Join Us
  • About Us
  • Search Icon

Theatrius

Theater Reviews—San Francisco and Beyond

“The Central Park Jogger”: Truth or Rape? —Streaming Sassymouth

“The Central Park Jogger”: Truth or Rape? —Streaming Sassymouth

October 26, 2021 Robert M. Gardner

John Fisher Revisits Travesty of Justice in NYC

by Robert M. Gardner

In his latest one man play, John Fisher takes us on a bike tour in Manhattan, telling the story of a brutal rape in Central Park and the false, race-based accusations by Trump and Giuliani. Fisher makes his bike ride into a piercing analysis of U.S. dysfunction.

As our hero rides with camera and mic, he points out imposing high rises and iconic skyscrapers.  He cycles by lofty edifices to contrast the lives of the rich with the New York workers’ lives. Fisher treats us to architectural wonders in his plays, but this time his tour is more ominous.

On April 19, 1989, Trisha Meili was beaten, raped, and left in the park to die.  In “Central Park Jogger,” Fisher recounts the trial of the five poor Black and Latino youths who were convicted of that crime in a huge “show” trial—without any real evidence.  The public was all onboard.

Labeled in the press as the Central Park Five, Kevin Richardson, 14, Raymond Santana, 14, Antron McCray, 15, Yusef Salaam, 15, and Korey Wise, 16 were convicted and imprisoned—but the real rapist surfaced nine years later!

New York police had coerced their confessions. Four served five years but it took thirteen years for Corey Wise to be freed for a crime he didn’t commit.

Ignoring their rights to a fair trial, Trump took out huge ads in the New York Times demanding their conviction. He was joined by Mayor Rudy Giuliani who condemned them in the press.

It sickens me to this day, as Fisher recalls his lawyer father stating, “Where is the evidence?”  Clearly, the trial was all about racial prejudice and not about justice for Trisha Meili.

Fisher says that our job is always: “to listen and find the truth.”  I agree with John that our national survival depends on learning to separate fact from fiction and not let media rants control our thinking.

One aspect I love about Fisher’s plays appears in the balance that he brings to a plot. Fisher talks about Naomi, a friend from graduate school, who told her friends that she was raped. Yet, unlike the Central Park rape, he learns that Naomi’s story was a lie.

Fisher’s inclusion of Naomi’s story at first confuses me. Is it a caution that we must not let ourselves be deceived by unfounded assertions? But Fisher does not give us any easy answers.

Of course, no one admits to being an abuser or racist, but these acts remain deeply embedded in U.S. life.

Fisher shows us how our minds work under public pressure, how easily power brokers and extreme stories control us. Even before Facebook, we all suffered from “social contagion”—the urge to jump on the bandwagon—especially when it supports our deepest beliefs.

Objective thinking is in short supply.

“The Central Park Jogger” provokes us to start sifting truth from lies. Take a ride in the park with John and ponder these questions with him—it’s a fine and rewarding trip.


“The Central Park Jogger”
by John Fisher—Streaming at Sassymouth.

Cast: John Fisher


Plays

Post navigation

NEXT
“The Great Khan” Unearths Hidden History of Africa & Asia, at S.F. Playhouse
PREVIOUS
“Vincent” Spotlights the Unbroken Bond between Brothers, at 6th Street Playhouse
Comments are closed.

Menu

  • Now Playing
  • All Reviews
  • Writers
  • Reflections
  • Millennial Notes
  • Join Us
  • About Us

BLM

Black Lives Matter

Subscribe for upcoming reviews!
Loading

Current Shows

  • “Dry Powder” Spotlights Wall Street Power-Brokers—at Left Edge
  • “Pride and Prejudice, The Musical” Enchants with Sass & Satire—at Ross Valley
  • “Clue” Melds Mystery & Comedy into Entertaining Adventure—at SF Playhouse
  • “Donna”: Intimate Interviews Celebrate Trans Triumphs—On Screen
  • “Fannie”: Sixties Spirituals Pave Path to Freedom—at TheatreWorks
  • “’Tasha” Tackles Raw Racism—at 3Girls
  • “Tea Party” Brews Up a Cup of America—at The Strand
  • “A Raisin in the Sun” Explodes with Drama and Power—at 6th Street
  • “Cambodian Rock Band” Deserves Its Standing Ovation—at Berkeley Rep
  • “Cambodian Rock Band” Mixes Nostalgic Hits with Terror—at Berkeley Rep
  • “Fun Home” Seduces with Strong Songs & Sultry Sass—at Berkeley Playhouse
  • “Anything Goes”: It’s Delightful, It’s Delicious, It’s De-lovely—at 42nd Street Moon
  • “SIX, The Musical” Celebrates Women’s Freedom & Individuality—at BroadwaySF
  • “Fun Home” Bursts with Love & Feeling—at Berkeley Playhouse
  • “Dear San Francisco” Wows with Kaleidoscopic Acrobatics—at Club Fugazi

About us:

If you want to see the best plays & performances around the San Francisco Bay or beyond, read our reviews. We promise to give you a true report on the best shows.
Bay Area Critics Circle

Barry David Horwitz, Editor of Theatrius, is a Voting Member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle, SFBATCC. Follow us on: facebook.com

© 2023   All Rights Reserved.