Born Bad Dawta Monologue Review and Annotations

The temperature is near the boiling point in the crackling opening monologue delivered by Dawta (Heather Alicia Simms), the eldest daughter (hence the generic name) in a “blood-related black family,” as the text has it. Addressed to a poised, only minimally responsive older woman we take to be her mother (a powerful Elain Graham), it’s a rage-fueled attack that hints at but never describes a long-held grievance at last let loose. Dawta’s speech is inflected with a specific vernacular sound suggesting the West Indies. (“Born Bad” was first performed at the Hampstead Theater in London in 2003, and won the prestigious Olivier Award for best new play.) But the language is heightened, fragmented and densely lyrical, mixing the banter and bravado of street talk with the shorthand intimacy of family communication.


- By Charles Isherwood, April 8 ,2011

Above is only a section of a review of Born Bad, written by Charles Isherwood. A publisher from The New York Times. I used this section as an example because it focuses more on ' Dawtas' monologue (the eldest daughter in the family).Considering that I have not seen ‘Born Bad’ in the theatre my experience and opinion on the play  compared to Isherwoods may be very different. But reading this review I believe the impact of seeing the play to the impact of reading it/ becoming that character are very much the same. The language in the play is very strong and the audience would be taken back because although there is only repetition of one swear word, “bitch”, the meaning of the word becomes different and more powerful and spiteful each time it is said. Dawta never says what happened to her and why she is coming for the mother in this scene the way she is. So the audience must piece together why Dawta is so torn and is unreiling all her built up rage on what seems to be her humble christian mother and what brought her family to pieces through her anger and subliminal sarcasm.