The Piano Lesson
Reviews
Rob Kozlowski Blog: The Piano Lesson
by Rob Kozlowski blog
This play just made me happy. Court Theatre opened its production of August Wilson's Pulitzer prize-winning play The Piano Lesson on Saturday night and the whole thing just made me happy. I could see within the first couple of minutes that the actors themselves were so incredibly happy to be there and knew the next three hours (which go by very quickly as long as you have a sizable bladder) would be a supreme pleasure. All the roles fit the actors like newly-tailored suits and the actors beamed with pride that they got to show them off.
The Piano Lesson is perhaps the best-known and most beloved entry in Wilson's unprecedented ten-play cycle, utilizing that dramaturgically glorious tool of the object around which the action of the play revolves. In this instance, it's a piano. Boy Willie sees it as the tool by which he can achieve full independence, one that he can sell for a parcel of land formerly owned by his family's owners; and his sister Bernice will not let it go. There is also a rather unexpected supernatural element to the proceedings as Boy Willie, Bernice and the family face ghosts of slavery past both symbolic and literal.
But most folks know the story. How's the production? Is good. Is very good. There's nothing better than a great play being done by fine actors. Whatever you feel about the text, whatever flaws there may be (and I have a hell of a time finding any in this text), the acting transcends it. Perhaps the end of the play seemed a bit too much, but I have no experience with previous productions to give me any context.
Believe it or not, this was my first August Wilson play. I can't think of a better way to be introduced to his work.
