THE HUNGERED ONE

Bullins is a young black playwright (""one of our most powerful. . ."" -- LeRoi Jones) whose lambasting cynicism and flair for dark dramatics were already evident in these twenty-one early pieces. The stories tend to divide into two types: grotesque cameos -- either bitter monologues pointing up the hypocrisy and vulnerability of ""cool,"" surrealized descriptions, or gothic parables about meaninglessness -- and more realistic, understated stories laying down some facts of black life. Whether it's banked or not, the passion is feverish and shows itself in stylistic rawness and frequently ragged constructions not likely to win Bullins many new admirers, but gratifying to those looking back from the perspective of the plays. Considering the probable audience, the pieces ought to have been dated.