"Few shows hold a place in the hearts of Gen Xers and Millennials more than The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Every week, we waited for Will, Carlton, Hilary, Uncle Phil, and Aunt Viv ( the first one, anyway) to flip the script on what class and hip-hop culture could mean. And Oasis knows exactly how to tap into that nostalgia while making it feel, well, fresh."
"From the moment the show starts at SF Oasis, it feels like stepping into the early '90s - but with a sharper, campier edge. When I heard that Oasis brought their production of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air back by popular demand, I had an out-of-body experience and found myself on their doorstep for opening night. It was the draw of the "Carlton Dance" - always and forever."
The Oasis production recreates an early 1990s atmosphere with a sharper, campier edge and high-energy performances. Performers channel core dynamics—an exaggerated Will and a neurotic Carlton—using lip-syncs, physical comedy, and precise '90s references. The production centers Black performers and acknowledges the original show's role in increasing Black visibility on television since the 1990s. The run leverages collective nostalgia while aiming to separate celebration from later controversies involving original cast or changing cultural norms. The director notes that television is 'of a time' and that some material or performers may age poorly, informing the show's contemporary framing.
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