Review | ‘The Brothers Size’ tests the ties that bind

Before Tarell Alvin McCraney co-won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (shared with director Barry Jenkins) for “Moonlight,” he made his mark in New York with “The Brother/Sister Plays,” a trilogy that fused African myth, raw emotion, and contemporary Black life. Two decades later, he revisits one of those works, “The Brothers Size,” in a new Off-Broadway revival at The Shed, co-directed by McCraney himself and starring “Moonlight” actor André Holland.

The plot is simple but archetypal. Ogun Size (Holland), the elder brother, represents steadiness and responsibility. Oshoosi (Alani iLongwe), recently released from prison, is impulsive, restless, and yearning for freedom. Elegba (Malcolm Mays), a charming but dangerous figure from the past, tempts Oshoosi back into trouble.

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