A review by tschwinge
The Piano Lesson by August Wilson

5.0

This. I have read many plays, this one, it's perfect. Wilson's signature language--his incredible ability to pick up the poetry of everyday colloquial speech and combine it with transcendent phrases on par with Shakespeare is on full display. The simplicity of items--a piano, a truck full of watermelons and a ghost--two of which the audience never see--create together enough to make high drama out of the ordinary in the most beautiful way imaginable. All of this family's history is tied to African-American history and connect to the present moments live on stage (as least in my mind as I read it), the metaphysical world of ghosts, curses and spells weaves it's way through the everyday concerns of money, dreams and lost love. All of Wilson's plays are incredible, but this one, wow. I was exhausted from reading it in the best possible way. Brilliant. I hope somewhere there's a production of it soon.