The Emperor Jones

Eugene O’Neill’s groundbreaking play The Emperor Jones is the story of Brutus Jones, a despot who ascends to the throne through lies, intimidation, and the politics of fear. Following a prison break in the United States, Jones sets himself up as monarch of a Caribbean island. When the natives rebel after years of exploitation, Jones’ mesmerizing journey into darkness becomes a terrifying psychological portrayal of power, fear, and madness. With his demons in hot pursuit, the emperor is forced to confront not just the mortal sins of his past but also ancestral depravities — all in search of forgiveness and salvation.