Giving Voice Parent Guide

Opportunities for young African-American actors are pretty thin on the ground in some parts of the country, but the August Wilson Monologue Competition helps to fill the void. Named in honor of the famous American playwright, competitors choose one of Wilson’s monologues to perform in front of audiences and a panel of judges. On the line are cash prizes, opportunities for recognition, and a chance to perform on Broadway in the finals. Along the way, competitors from a variety of background explore their interest in acting and how their lived experience shapes their approach to the material.

As with a lot of documentaries, this probably isn’t a good choice for young viewers. There are a plethora of positive messages and interesting stories, but small children are not famed for their interest in social issues, theatre, or their willingness to sit still for what is functionally an hour and a half of interview footage. Moreover, there are some mature themes and language that come out of these plays – primarily in the form of 3 extreme profanities and half a dozen racial slurs.

Even with adults, there’s a limited audience for this kind of documentary. It’s not thrilling, fast-paced, risqué, or action-packed. Giving Voice has a very specific focus on the effects of August Wilson’s plays on these young people. If you’re not interested in theatre generally, August Wilson specifically, or youth education, there isn’t too much here to keep you going. Apart, of course, from the important questions these works and these youth raise over the course of the film.

Wilson’s work is complex and difficult, and these monologues represent that, hence the profanity. But more importantly, they force people to address social and racial issues that perhaps they find it more comfortable to ignore. What I found particularly impressive was the grace and eloquence with which these teenaged competitors handled the material, and the dignity they brought to it. Although there’s only one winner of the competition, it seems that everyone who competed came away with something – even if that was only renewed determination or a collection of August Wilson’s plays.