Smart People, Directed By Lydia R. Diamond

Smart People is a contemporary play by Lydia R. Diamond that is set in Harvard University. It is directed by Chuck Smith. The play circulates around the lives of four racially diverse characters: Brian White, a cynical Harvard professor specializing in neuropsychiatry; Jackson Moore, a hot-headed surgical intern at Harvard Medical school; Ginny Yang, a shopaholic Harvard psychology professor; and Valerie Johnston, a tenacious actress and part-time research assistant. Obviously, all of the characters are intellectuals who deal with racial issues and quarrelsome romantic relationships. Smart People is a play that created meaningful spatial relationships through four different levels, strategic distancing, and subtle changes to represent issues

The first level is clearly dominated by Valerie, an African American woman trying to achieve her dreams of becoming a successful actress. Since she is a woman of color who does not earn a lot for a living, her spotlight is on the lowest level. The second level is Ginny, an Asian American woman who is trying to make a difference through her research. Although her occupation places her in a higher social class, she is only on the second level because she is a woman and of color. The third level is Jackson, an aspiring African American surgeon. He is on the third level due to his occupation and gender. Lastly, Brian owns the highest level. Brian is a white professor who scientifically tries to prove that “all whites are racist.” He is on the highest level since he is a white male with high social class. Chuck Smith intentionally planned the levels for each character in accordance with the race, gender, and occupation of the

All characters move to different levels in the play. Brian stepped down to Ginny’s and Valerie’s levels, but he never stood on Jackson’s level. Likewise, Jackson never climbed to Brian’s level. Brian’s level changes suggest that in order to relate and interact with other characters, he has to step down. This implies that people of color struggle to reach the top level. Moreover, the only reason why Valerie manages to step on the highest level with Brian is due to her role as an assistant. Although they appear on the same level, Valerie is still a subordinate compared to Brian. They are not equal. Changes of levels throughout the play suggest that privileged people, like Brian, are the ones that have to step down to connect to others. Either people of color do not possess the privilege of climbing the top, or they are restricted and