Book Review: Master Harold And The Boys by Athol Fugard

"Master Harold"... and the Boys
By Athol Fugard

This one-act play is set in 1950 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1950. The three characters are Harold, the white son of the café's owner, and Sam and Willie, two black employees who are cleaning up after the day's lunch business when the play begins.

What follows is a conversation that slowly builds into an intense look at institutionalized racism and the dynamics of a broken family. Along the way, the audience learns the history of Harold's childhood, his relationships with his parents and with Sam and Willie, and gets some poignant glimpses of the culture they all live in.

"Master Harold "… And The Boys packs a lot of punch into its dialogue, especially as it reaches its climax. There are some wonderful little details as well, as the conversation touches on music and dancing, comic books and kites, and the question of who were the truly influential figures in history.

The climax brings the issue of race to the forefront and delves into Harold's conflicted emotions about the failings of his father and Sam's role as a father figure in his life.

"Master Harold "… And The Boys was book #11 in my goal of reading 50 books in 2010.