In the summer of 2003, Tarell Alvin McCraney (who had just graduated from college) wrote two scripts. One was Moonlight (which was eventually turned into a Best Picture Oscar-winning film). The other script was The Brothers Size. Both works tackled family bonds because, as McCraney tells Playbill: "I was trying to write work that looked at my family dynamics and the way we existed in the world." When he wrote those plays, McCraney's mother had passed away from AIDS-related complications while his brother had just been released from incarceration. "Both of those [Moonlight and The Brothers Size] are really integral about, just bonds, family, connection."
The Brothers Size first premiered in 2007 at The Public Theater Off-Broadway, and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary with a new production at Off-Broadway's The Shed. Inspired by figures from Yoruba mythology, the story follows two brothers: Oshoosi Size and Ogun Size—Oshoosi was recently released from prison and is staying at his brother's. Ogun tries to push his younger brother to move forward with his life, while Oshoosi resents his older brother for being so hard on him. Things get even more complicated when Elegba, a friend that Oshoosi made in prison, comes to visit.
Back in 2007, a young André Holland played Elegba in the play's world premiere. Now two decades later, Holland plays the older brother Ogun.
Ogun Size is living with his younger brother, Oshoosi Size, who is recently out of prison. Oshoosi is always oversleeping and needs to find a job per his parole agreement. Ogun, who owns an auto-mechanic shop, offers to hire Oshoosi. Oshoosi accepts because he needs the job, but is annoyed at his older brother for always being so hard on him.
"I think 20 years ago when I did it, I thought I had a sense of what I was doing...I got a lot more life behind me now, so I'm trying to bring an honest perspective to the work," says Holland. "I think audiences who missed it the first time around 20 years ago, I think are going to be really surprised and excited to meet the play now."
See McCraney, Holland, and the show's cast discuss the play in the video above. The Brothers Size runs until September 28. Visit TheShed.org.
Munir Zakee in The Brothers Size
André Holland, Malcolm Mays, and Alani iLongwe in The Brothers Size
André Holland in The Brothers Size
Malcolm Mays and Alani iLongwe in The Brothers Size
Alani iLongwe in The Brothers Size
Malcolm Mays, Alani iLongwe, and André Holland in The Brothers Size
Malcolm Mays, Alani iLongwe, and André Holland in The Brothers Size
Alani iLongwe and André Holland in The Brothers Size
Alani iLongwe and André Holland in The Brothers Size
