“The Piano Lesson” has a stormy opening at Encore! Theatre Group

“The Piano Lesson” by August Wilson, premiered on Broadway in 1990 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.  It is the fourth play in Wilson's “The Pittsburgh Cycle”. Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, the play follows the lives of the Charles family and an heirloom, the family piano, which is decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor. The plot focuses on the arguments between a brother, Boy Willie, and a sister, Berniece, who have different ideas on what to do with the piano.

Encore! Theater Group is presenting “The Piano Lesson”. On opening night, the ensemble was fighting the elements outside as well as some audience distraction inside. First-time director, Jason J. Little, does some beautiful character work with his cast. I can always tell when a director has a background in acting; the characters on stage are thoroughly developed, such is the case with this production. Angel Carter, as the sister Berniece, is the show stunner with her intensity of spirit and resolve (she is the understudy for the role and I would never have known). Zachary Clark, as Boy Willie, plays just the right amount of angst and defiance opposite Ms. Carter. As the neutral party to the sibling conflict, Alex Christian’s portrayal of Lyman is just right and equally sympathetic to both parties. The entire cast is engaging and each character is well rounded and believable.

Unfortunately, on opening night the cast got lost multiple times and the production ran extremely long as a result. A number of the cast are hard to hear even from the fourth row which is made even worse when fighting with the storm outside. The director and lighting designer did the audience a disservice by putting scenes on the downstage area that is mostly in the dark and can only be seen by the front row. Dennis Jethroe II, as comic relief Wining Boy, is a distraction when he is not speaking, as if attempting to draw attention from the action of the play, to the detriment of his fellow castmates. This production needed more rehearsal, as indicated by the curtain call that left twelve-year-old Jada Little, as Maretha, standing alone for much too long until, you guessed it, Mr. Jethroe ran out to take lots of bows.

All in all this is a heart wrenching story about the question of what one should do with one’s legacy. This is a talented cast telling a beautiful story and hopefully they have all the kinks worked out for the remainder of the run.

“The Piano Lesson” presented by Encore! Theatre Group runs through July 9th. For tickets and information visit the Encore! Theatre website.