I got a chance to see “Radio Golf” while visiting NYC a few days ago. This is the final play of August Wilson’s 10 play cycle – taking us from 1910 to the mid-1990’s. His plays address events and issues of different parts of Black life across America, particularly, Pittsburgh, PA. Some of the same characters are scattered through out the 10 plays, following them from decade to decade.
I did expect Wilson’s sharp dialogue and wit, but, I didn’t expect to laugh as much as I did. More humor here than I’ve seen in his other plays, but, still taking a look at the importance of family, relationships and loyalty, all in the language of regular folks.
Since this play takes place in the “You too can be a millionaire” 90’s, the focus is on ambition: what is success? Is it really mine, or it is just dependent upon the largess of the powers that be? How proud & independent can I be as a business owner (or an artist for that matter) when I have a “benefactor”? Can I balance between pleasing a patron and acknowledging where I come from? Can I tear down my cousin’s old haunted house, where Aunt Esther lived until the ripe age of 237 (we meet her in “Gem of the Ocean”) to put up a shopping center? Big bucks, Starbucks!
Big questions! And, asked with a : )
Unfortunately, the play is scheduled to close on July 1. But, I have no doubt that the Wilson saga will be performed for years to come, whether one at a time, or all in a row. Catch them when you can, *always* worthwhile.
August Wilson ten-play cycle:
- 1900s – Gem of the Ocean (2003)
- 1910s – Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (1984)
- 1920s – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1982)
- 1930s – The Piano Lesson (1986)
- 1940s – Seven Guitars (1995)
- 1950s – Fences (1985)
- 1960s – Two Trains Running (1990)
- 1970s – Jitney (1982)
- 1980s – King Hedley II (2001)
- 1990s – Radio Golf (2005)