***** Anyone who is aware of August Wilson, knows that he has a wonderful series of ten plays that take us through different decades in Pittsburgh. The Goodman is now doing the second of the series, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” on their Albert stage. Directed to perfection by Chuck Smith ( a true veteran of translating Wilson’s poetic-like stories to the stage) on a set designed by Linda Buchanan that will knock your sox off. While the Goodman has a long history with the works ( and the playwright), August Wilson, the actors that are playing the roles in this story are also understanding of the poetic way that he wrote. Yes, even the children, Harper Anthony as Reuben) and Kylah Renee Jones as Zonia bring his words to the story as if they were the actual characters in the story.
Let me tell you about the story. It takes place in Pittsburgh ) as do all of Wilson’s works in this series) in 1911. The house where the action takes place is a rooming house owned by the Holly family. Seth ( deftly handled by Dexter Zollicoffer) and his wife, Bertha (Taylar) offer a room and two meals per day for $2.00 per week. One must understand that the dollar was far different back then. Most people earned around $10 per week unless they were professionals. A “rooming house” is like a bed and breakfast today. They have their room and they enjoy the meals in the dining room. By the way, the outhouse is in the yard.
In this play, we meet a potpourri of personalities. A young man, Jeremy ( Anthony Fleming III is at his best) a road worker, who finds a woman to move in with him ( a beautiful portrayal by Nambi E. Kelley) and there is another lady who moves in , Molly ( played to perfection by Krystel V. McNeil) who will play an important role in helping Harold Loomis ( an incredible character brought to life by A.C. Smith) who is searching for his estranged wife along with his daughter Zonia ( the previously mentioned Ms Jones). He is a Deacon and is quite distraught about Martha’s disappearance. Martha is well played by Shariba Rivers.
One of the “roomers” ( as they are called) is Bynum Walker ( an incredible portrayal by Tim Rhoze) who has some mystical powers. If you think about the time that this takes place, and what the world was like, these African Americans had in some cases come from lives of slavery driven lives. The other ensemble member, Gary Houston plays Rutherford Selig, a local that helps people find missing relatives as well as selling merchandise needed. The children in the story represent an attitude about the future. Wilson believed that our children will have the power and ability to change the past, the present and the future. This play shows us that.
The tech side of this production is as amazing as the direction. Christine Carole’s choreography ( also assisted on direction) is quite unique and fitting of the characters that Wilson brought to the story. Evelyn Danner’s costumes are terrific, the sound and musical composition by Pornchanok Kanchanbanca and the lighting by Jared Gooding work to make us see and hear everything that we are to see.
“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” will continue thru May 19th with performances as follows:
Wednesdays 7:30pm
Thursdays 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Fridays 7:30pm
Saturdays 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Sundays 2:00pm & 7:30pm
For Enhanced and Accessible Performances visit www.Goodmantheatre.org/Access
Stage: Albert Theatre
170 N. Dearborn
Show Type: Drama
Box Office: 312-443-3800
FYI: Broadway In Chicago currently is producing “How I Learned What I Learned” at The Broadway Playhouse thru May5th ( see review at www.aroundthetownchicago.com)
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”.
photos Liz Lauren
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