'The Brothers Size,' At The Geffen, Measures Up

By Darlene Donloe

In the fictional town of San Pere, Louisiana, two brothers, Ogun Size (the oldest) and Oshoosi Size are living life while trying to heal their relationship. 

While they are genetically related, they may not be cut from the same cloth. 

Ogun, the owner of an auto mechanic shop, and the more stable of the two, wants desperately for his brother, Oshoosi, who recently got out of prison, to get his life together – starting with getting a job.  

Oshoosi, who has been staying with his brother – but not contributing to the household, wants to hold off on getting a job for a while, so he can enjoy his carefree life.   

Things take a turn when Elegba, who was in prison with Oshoosi, comes for a visit.  Ogun (Sheaun McKinney) doesn’t believe Elegba is a good influence on his brother – but he gives him the benefit of the doubt.  

(L-R) Sheaun McKinney, Alani iLongwe, and Malcolm Mays

The brothers’ relationship is tested when Elegba (Malcolm Mays) tempts Oshoosi (Alani iLongwe) back to his old habits. 

Elegba, who is clearly up to no good, hints at romantic feelings for Oshoosi that the playwright doesn’t give much mileage throughout the show – opting to lean more toward a masculine examination.  

As the brothers grapple with loyalty, freedom, and responsibility, their humanity is revealed through a raw and heartfelt exploration of the bonds of brotherhood. 

The revival of ‘The Brothers Size,’ written by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney, is currently playing at The Geffen Playhouse through September 8, 2024. 

(L-R) Alani iLongwe and Sheaun McKinney

The play is part of McCraney’s  acclaimed trilogy “The Brother/Sister Plays,” which includes “In the Red and Brown Water,” and “Marcus: or the Secret of Sweet.” 

It’s essentially a brotherly love story that touches on the angst of Black masculinity and the fragility of living while Black in a white supremacy world that doesn’t place much value on Black life.  

Oscar-winning screenwriter McCraney (Moonlight) is having quite the year. He’s kicking off his inaugural season helming the Geffen and his acclaimed play, ‘The Brothers Size,’ is celebrating its 20th anniversary in the Playhouse’s Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. 

After two decades, this show is just as potent, volatile, and relevant as it was when it was first introduced.

(L-R) Malcolm Mays and Sheaun McKinney

The 90-minute, one-act play draws from the rich tradition of the Yoruba people of West Africa. The names of the characters are taken from Yoruba mythology. Ogun is a warrior associated with metalwork; Oshoosi is named after a wandering spirit renowned for hunting as well as contemplation and artistic pleasure, and Elegba implies the trickster.  The Yoruba are a diverse group of tribes that share a common language and culture and make up about 20% of Nigeria’s population. 

McCraney’s dialogue has a natural rhythm and is poignant, humorous, in-your-face, and authentic. 

The banter between the brothers is crisp and fast. 

The chemistry between the brothers, and their easy familial conversation is what drives the show.  

McCraney’s decision to have the characters speak the directions, i.e., the character Ogun saying, ‘Ogun gets under the car,’ just before Ogun gets under the car, is both histrionic, hilarious, and adds a great deal of texture. 

Stan Mathabane

The production, sans a set, save for a musician upstage center, keeps a fast pace – thanks to Director Bijan Sheibani, who effectively moves the three characters around the circular stage.  Instead, the black stage is designated by a circle of white powder. With no furniture on the stage, the actors can fully engulf the space – which works tremendously.  Even without props, walls, and furniture – the dialogue, direction, and acting bring it all to a visual elegance within everyone’s pure imagination. The intimate setting makes for a powerful production with the actors only an arm’s length away.

Sheibani gets stellar performances from iLongwe, Mays, and McKinney. 

iLongwe is tasked with the heavy lifting emotionally. His emotions drift between happiness, sadness, fear, doubt, anxiety, excitement, confusion, elation, and more. It’s a tour-de-force performance. 

McKinney, who appeared in the show before The Geffen production, delivers a solid, sometimes comical, performance, as does Mays.   

All three actors are worthy opponents.  

The sequence where they dance and sing, similar to fraternity brothers steppin’, is brilliant.  The second dance number, which includes just the brothers singing and dancing to Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness” – is exceptional and displays the one-time youthful joy of the brothers. 

Their joy is quickly squashed. The end of the show is incredibly emotional – but is a gut-wrenching display of brotherly love. 

Don’t sleep on this show. The music, acting, direction, and writing are firing on all cylinders! 

Juel D. Lane’s choreography is so fierce, it’s like a fourth character.  

Tarell Alvin McCraney

‘The Brothers Size,’ directed by Bijan Sheibani, and written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, stars Alani iLongwe, Malcolm Mays, and Sheaun McKinney. Stan Mathabane - bass flute, drone flute, talking drum, Djembe, Dununba, Sangban, bell, Skekere, tenor sax, and bar chimes. ‘The Brothers Size’ is a Co-Production with New York’s The Shed. 

Kudos to Suzu Sakai (scenic designer), Dede Ayita (costume designer), Adam Honore (lighting designer), Stan Mathabane (sound designer and composer), and Juel D. Lane (choreographer).

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), ‘The Brothers Size’ gets an E (excellent).

Running time: 90 minutes. No intermission. 

‘The Brothers Size,’ Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA; 8 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 8; $45-$129; 310 208-2028 or www.geffenplayhouse.org.