Left Behind

Nilaja Sun channels her experience as an educator in No Child..., her play about the state of public education in the Bronx, New York, that is one part smirk and one part devastated sigh. Patrese McClain stars in Sun's place, taking on all sixteen roles, which range from a smattering of annoying, shy and conceited children from agonizingly horrid homes and neighborhoods to apathetic, acquiesced and tired adults, some of whom feel they are no longer able to keep the faith that they can make a difference. Undoubtedly funny in many relatable ways -- one kid's response to Sun's attempt to introduce them to works of Timberlake Wertenbaker with, "Yo, Justin Timberlake done wrote himself a play!"-- it is also a painful reminder of the difficulties of the modern classroom. The Black Rep presents No Child... at 7 p.m. tonight at the Grandel Theatre (3610 Grandel Square). Tickets are $20 to $47 and can be purchased at www.theblackrep.org or by phone at 314-534-3801.The play runs Thursday through Sunday until Sunday, April 1.
Thursdays-Sundays. Starts: March 15. Continues through April 1, 2012