I recently had the pleasure of witnessing The Brothers Size at the Jubilee Theatre in Fort Worth. First of all, shoutout to my girl Krystal for driving, because y’all know how I feel about gas. Second, wow. The Brothers Size is a one act play that chronicles two brothers Ogun Size and Oshoosi (Osi) Size, and their neighborhood friend Elegba. The drummer was also a silent character in the play.

The play focuses on Ogun and Oshoosi’s strained relationship after Oshoosi’s release from prison. Ogun forces Osi to work at his car shop to give him something constructive to do to rehabilitate his brother. Osi, struggles with maturity during the entire play. We later learn that Ogun has been carrying the burden of Osi’s foolish decisions ever since their mother passed and Ogun assumed responsibility for his brother. He literally plays the role of his brother’s keeper, and tries to keep him out of trouble, to no avail.

Ogun does not like Elegba, who has a close, nearly predatory relationship with Osi. The three of them have known each other since childhood. Osi and Elegba ended up in prison at the same time, and out of their previous bond, and extenuating circumstances in prison developed a homoerotic relationship, of which Osi desperately wants to forget about and wants to leave in the past upon his return to freedom.  Elegba, on the other hand, hangs it over Osi’s head and serves as a reminder of his bondage  during the play. Elegba plays a devilish role in that he dangles what looks like freedom, the very thing Osi wants: a car, in his face all the while using it as a device to keep Osi locked up.

Elegba and Osi end up taking a road trip, which results in them being pulled over by the cops, and the cops discovering Elegba’s cocaine stash, which violates both of their probation. Osi escapes to his brother’s house and is forced to confess everything to Ogun. Ogun has to make the heart wrenching decision to, once again, try to save his brother, and tells him to leave and to never look back. Ogun finds himself having to bear his brother’s burdens again when Osi leaves. Osi is the only family he has left, and Ogun decides to give up the only thing he has- his brother- to stay in the same old town working at the same old car shop in turn for his brother’s freedom.

Y’all. I cried like a baby. Not those cute tears that you wipe with the corner of a napkin you found in your purse. I’m talking toddler who just got her toy taken away, I want my mama, I have to go to the bathroom to collect myself cried. This play, written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, dealt with love, loss, identity, bondage, and freedom in such a relatable and perfectly choreographed way that I nearly forgot that it was fiction. It’s closed in DFW, but if you get the opportunity to see it in your city, absolutely check it out!

Me, Krystal, Angie and the cast 🙂

xoxo Kaisha