Mimicking an American Catastrophe

Subject:

It is clear that Fires in the Mirror reflects the quarrels and racial tensions between two minority communities in a Brooklyn neighborhood. Race, gender, politics, religion, identity, justice, slavery, and power are the main themes explored in this play. Even though much could be said about these complex topics I would like to spend this time to analyze Anna Smith’s role in the play.

Anna Deveare Smith, an African American herself, is the heart and soul of this play. I believe the primary goal of the play is to award a voice to those unheard human beings in American society. Smith delivers this voice by mimicking nineteen different portraits including Blacks, Jews, mothers, fathers, and activists. Smith interviewed several diverse individuals involved in an American crisis and then mimicked them and their stories onstage in a very masterful way. The black and white stills and real footage videos add to the realism of the events depicted in this play.

By a simple change in costume, an adjustment to voice and a modification to attitude Smith, was able to convey the personalities of those who she probably felt had something important to say. Although it would be fair to assume that much exaggeration was put into all these different personalities to create the play aspect of it and a certain stylized dialogue, I did see uniqueness in all characters that made me reflect upon the different social groups that make up American society.

Why did Smith decide to impersonate all the characters herself when she could of used different actors for all roles? There is a certain symbolism I believe Anna Smith wants to create by using herself to act all characters. Fires in the Mirror looks at clashing cultures, community and individual disputes that create identity setbacks. Therefore, Smith mimicking all characters seems to suggest the equality of all humans. Anna Smith could also be signifying how the actions of individuals can affect other human beings particularly in their respective communities. A perfect example is when the character Norman Rosenbaum is referring to his brother’s death and says “When my brother was stabbed four times, each and every American was stabbed four times.”


Jimmy