Review: Reflections That Sear in a Reborn ‘Fires in the Mirror’

I have seen this play twice twice, once with Smith when it premiered and once with Smith on PBS. Almost 30 years later the dialogue of American slavery being the Holocaust still sticks with me (despite the origin of that discussion in the play). That this country and its first 15 Presidents somehow did nothing to stop the practice of human enslavement remains a constant memory of our past.

I consider myself fortunate to have seen the original play with Anna Deveare Smith early in its run at the Public Theater way back when. The play and Ms. Smith's performance were brilliant, touching, riveting, searing, and deeply probing; full of humanity and compassion, with many moments that brought laughter and others that moved the audience to tears. Glad to see this wonderful work of art has been been revived for a new audience. But I'm sorry our society is still sharply divided along class, race and religious lines as it was before and during the relevant events in Crown Heights. If we could time travel back to the NYC of back then, no one would believe who's in the White House today. I ended up being a big fan of Smith in TV's "Nurse Jackie." Wonder what her view of the new production is, and whether she had any involvement.

In the early 1980s, I heard a PBS radio presentation of this play as performed by Smith. It was spell-binding and when it ended, I learned there was an opportunity to purchase a tape-recording of the performance. I sent for it immediately and it has been with me since as a highly treasured possession (even though I no longer own a play-back machine). I've cautiously loaned it to interested friends and on one occasion played it for a spellbound small group of theater buffs. Smith became my theater heroine. I hope that a performance of the play will be mounted here in Seattle soon. Thanks to Mr. Brantley for this excellent review.

I don’t alway agree with Brantley, but in this case his review captures the essence of the play. We attended a performance of the play last weekend. It is a great play. This play deserves to be seen by everyone.

Thanks for timely review, hoping to get to NY to see it.

anna deveare smith is a literary genius. her one-woman show was blasting. and her acting talents are exceptional. not many women can claim more than one skill, as smith does.

I saw the play just the other day. Michael Benjamin Washington was absolutely superb. As is the production. I left the theater amazed at how we are all talking past each other, not to each other, cocooned in our own worlds and realities. Life really is a series of monologues, not often pierced by dialogues.