Divided into five parts, the play details the relationship between Eugene, a very fair-skinned black man, and Alma, a large dark-skinned woman.
During the second part, as they progress through adolescence and through their respective tragedies, Alma and Eugene's friendship crosses over into a more intimate relationship.
The third part has a literal rift between the pair when, after graduation, Alma decides to go to school in New York and Eugene is left behind.
Part four leads into the consummation of their sexual relationship when Eugene visits Alma in New York City six months later.
Directed by Blanka Zizka the play featured Dael Orlandersmith (Alma) and Howard W. Overshown (Eugene).
[12] The CurtainUp reviewer of the Philadelphia and McCarter productions wrote: "The characters and situations are carefully delineated, with repetition and a building up of evidence.
There are big time generational issues: the remove, the attachment, the racial hatreds, the resentment, the traits handed down, the turning into your mother...