--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know when you see a play and there is…" description: "\"You know when you see a play and there is a character whom you know so well that you hate them and love them at the same time? That is Michael Potts' p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/lachanze-13933_character_you-know-when-you-see-a-play-and-there-i_1336374.jpg" --- # You know when you see a play and there is a character whom… ![“You know when you see a play and there is a character whom you know so well that you hate them and love them at the same time? That is Michael Potts' portrayal of Turnbo in August Wilson's 'Jitney.'” quote by LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/lachanze-13933_character_you-know-when-you-see-a-play-and-there-i_1336374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/lachanze-13933_character_you-know-when-you-see-a-play-and-there-i_1336374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/lachanze-13933_character_you-know-when-you-see-a-play-and-there-i_1336374.jpg) > “You know when you see a play and there is a character whom you know so well that you hate them and love them at the same time? That is Michael Potts' portrayal of Turnbo in August Wilson's 'Jitney.'” [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A performance can evoke simultaneous love and hate for a character, revealing complex emotions. **In simple terms:** A role can make you love and hate a character at once. Key Takeaway Embrace nuanced feelings about art. Themes empathy art complexity Mood thoughtful conflicted Type analytical emotional When to use this quote - acting workshops - film analysis - literary criticism - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology character study Questions to Reflect On - Why do you feel both love and hate for a character? - How does this duality affect your engagement? A Different Perspective Not all viewers will share the same mixed emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/august-wilson/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Jitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jitney-4501352/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Portrayal Turnbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portrayal-turnbo-4501349/) [Potts Portrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potts-portrayal-4501348/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Turnbo August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turnbo-august-4501351/) [Wilson Jitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilson-jitney-4501350/) ## Related quotes > [The coffee will be ready in a jitney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-ace/the-coffee-will-be-ready-in-a-jitney/) [Jane Ace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-ace/) > [I studied acting in NYU's graduate program, in which we covered everything from Ibsen and Chekov to August Wilson and David Mamet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-studied-acting-in-nyu-s-graduate-program-in-which-we-covered/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [ We just had to stay out-of-the-way \[in Fences\]. \[August Wilson\] already wrote a masterpiece. And you really don't know how it's going to work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-just-had-to-stay-out-of-the-way-in-fences-august-wilson-already/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [What I learned as an actor was the only way you could really do August Wilson's work, you had to leave an ounce of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-s-dutton/what-i-learned-as-an-actor-was-the-only-way-you-could-really-do/) [Charles S. Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-s-dutton/) > [There's no reason why you can't say "August Wilson, playwright" even though all of my work, every single play, is about black Americans, about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/there-s-no-reason-why-you-can-t-say-august-wilson-playwright-even/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [ It just happened that we did \[Fences\] seven years ago on Broadway. Scott Rudin brought me August Wilson's original screenplay for it, and I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/it-just-happened-that-we-did-fences-seven-years-ago-on-broadway-scott/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [The person whose work introduced me to the craft was Lorraine Hansberry. The person who taught me to love the craft was Tennessee Williams.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/the-person-whose-work-introduced-me-to-the-craft-was-lorraine/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [I was first introduced to August Wilson in the 80s when Charles Dutton did Ma Rainey and James Earl Jones and Courtney Vance did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-was-first-introduced-to-august-wilson-in-the-80s-when-charles/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I wrestle in a big way with August Wilson's work in that I at times admire it and at times feel infuriated by it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branden-jacobs-jenkins/i-wrestle-in-a-big-way-with-august-wilson-s-work-in-that-i-at-times/) [Branden Jacobs-Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branden-jacobs-jenkins/) > [The first theater subscription I ever bought was the August Wilson season at Signature. I remember thinking a whole season to one playwright was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branden-jacobs-jenkins/the-first-theater-subscription-i-ever-bought-was-the-august-wilson/) [Branden Jacobs-Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branden-jacobs-jenkins/) > [African-Americans are always forced to learn the other culture, but the other culture is not forced to learn ours. I went to acting school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-thoms/african-americans-are-always-forced-to-learn-the-other-culture-but/) [Tracie Thoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-thoms/) > [ August \[Wilson\] elevates in us is the average man in a way that is heroic and real and human. What you do is you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/august-wilson-elevates-in-us-is-the-average-man-in-a-way-that-is/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [American naturalism is what my indulgent actor side loves: a bit of Tennessee Williams, a bit of Clifford Odets, August Wilson - I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-clarke/american-naturalism-is-what-my-indulgent-actor-side-loves-a-bit-of/) [Emilia Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-clarke/) > [It was a big thing for me to read black writers. 'Fences,' by August Wilson. James Baldwin's 'Amen Corner.' 'The Fire Next Time.' 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/it-was-a-big-thing-for-me-to-read-black-writers-fences-by-august/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [I grew up when one of America's greatest black playwrights, August Wilson, was writing about life in Pittsburgh, but I never saw myself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-porter/i-grew-up-when-one-of-america-s-greatest-black-playwrights-august/) [Billy Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-porter/) ## More by LaChanze > [I was born in St. Augustine, Florida. I lived there till I was about 13, and then my family moved to Connecticut. I finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-was-born-in-st-augustine-florida-i-lived-there-till-i-was-about-13/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [What I always liked best about myself was my resilience, especially in this business with all the 'no's,' the doors closed in my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/what-i-always-liked-best-about-myself-was-my-resilience-especially-in/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [As an actress who has performed in theater for over 17 years, my experience performing in 'The Color Purple' has been a truly life-changing journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/as-an-actress-who-has-performed-in-theater-for-over-17-years-my/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [I always had a strong faith, and I always relied on God for a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-always-had-a-strong-faith-and-i-always-relied-on-god-for-a-lot/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [I believe that everything is divinely inspired. Bad things happen - they do - but I also think that when these bad things happen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-believe-that-everything-is-divinely-inspired-bad-things-happen-they/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [I can't stand adversity and stress and drama and tension. I can't function in that environment. If I have anything to say about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-can-t-stand-adversity-and-stress-and-drama-and-tension-i-can-t/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [I am an African-American woman of dark skin tone, and there are very specific roles that are usually given to African-American women of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-am-an-african-american-woman-of-dark-skin-tone-and-there-are-very/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [I went to see 'Kinky Boots' to see my friend Billy Porter in his groundbreaking performance. But while backstage, I was hoping for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-went-to-see-kinky-boots-to-see-my-friend-billy-porter-in-his/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [I want to share the things I've done, the things I've survived, the things I've struggled through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-want-to-share-the-things-i-ve-done-the-things-i-ve-survived-the/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [Naturally you want to be the best mom you can, but then also you want to be the best performer you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/naturally-you-want-to-be-the-best-mom-you-can-but-then-also-you-want/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [I have loved fiercely in my life - a few times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-have-loved-fiercely-in-my-life-a-few-times/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [I believe in divine intervention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-believe-in-divine-intervention/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [Theater is structured. You're plugged into a system. It's relentless. You're expected to do certain things every day. You have your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/theater-is-structured-you-re-plugged-into-a-system-it-s-relentless/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [The majority of the roles I've played are women who have been either impoverished or subjugated in some way. So while I've been fortunate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/the-majority-of-the-roles-i-ve-played-are-women-who-have-been-either/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [It's still hard for me to think about Sept. 11 sometimes. I'm still angry. It's hard to watch my daughters, Celia and Zaya, grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/it-s-still-hard-for-me-to-think-about-sept-11-sometimes-i-m-still/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) [Explore all 48 LaChanze quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know when you see a play and there is a character whom you know so well that you hate them and love them at the same time? 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