AUGUST WILSON'S THE PIANO LESSON Reviews

August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork THE PIANO LESSON returns to Broadway in the event of the season, starring Academy Award® winner Samuel L. Jackson, Screen Actors Guild Award® nominee John David Washington, and Tony® and Emmy® nominee Danielle Brooks, directed by Tony nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson.

A battle is brewing in the Charles household. At the center lies the family’s prized heirloom piano. On one side, a brother plans to build the family fortune by selling it. On the other, a sister will go to any length to keep it and preserve the family history. Only their uncle stands in between. But even he can’t hold back the ghosts of the past.

THE PIANO LESSON is the play for now. It reaches into the souls of the present, revealing startling truths about how we perceive our past—and who gets to define our legacy.

Opening Night at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

I quite enjoyed it and also expect glowing reviews. The cast is really wonderful.

I saw the final preview last night and my sentiments about this were about the same as I had from "Death of a Salesman" - some great performances, some terrible directorial choices, and a very weird handling of the supernatural elements of the piece. It's almost as if the directors don't trust the material and so are overdoing it with flash-bang effects.

Samuel Jackson was very good in a smaller role than the advertising lets on, and his recounting of the history of the piano in Act I was fantastic. I also found Danielle Brooks to be great as well, playing her role with emotional stoicism that finally cracks throughout Act II. I agree with the posters on the Previews page that Michael Potts and Ray Fisher, both theatre veterans, are by and large the best parts of the show, and their connsumate professionalism and theatrical presence sometimes comes close to upstaging their more famous co-stars.

The BIGGEST problem, by and far, is John David Washington. His daddy, he ain't. I can surmise from the dialogue that his character can be a bit of an impulsive hothead and fast talker, but even the most severe of these types can still have moments of subtlety. Whether through direction or personal acting choice, it all feels very one-note and comes in at an unrelenting 10, like he swallowed a handful of uppers before charging on stage. After a while, I just felt like I was being shouted at by him and it wasn't really giving me any reason to feel like Boy Willie had a case to take the piano (which I feel like he should). Halfway through the play, all I could see is that he reminded me of Chris Redd doing his Kayne impression from SNL (based on manic energy alone).

Of the play revivals I've seen, this was a bit of a disappointment, but slightly better than Death of a Salesman. Thus far, my MVP for play revival this year is "TOPDOG/UDNERDOG" by a mile

quizking101 said: "It's almost as if the directors don't trust the material and so are overdoing it with flash-bang effects."



There's a lot of that going on recently.

https://deadline.com/2022/10/piano-lesson-broadway-review-samuel-l-jackson-john-david-washington-1235142480/

"Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington & Danielle Brooks Rouse The Ghosts In A Spirited Revival"

"While the outcome of the play’s central dilemma – will Berniece agree to sell the piano and let loose of the family’s history to appease her brother’s hopes for a more secure future – won’t be in doubt by anyone who has seen either a previous production or the 1995 TV-movie adaptation, director Jackson, the wife of Samuel L. Jackson, maintains the dramatic tension throughout the three-hour running time. She (and Wilson) hand each actor a worthy moment in the spotlight, with every last member of this cast taking full, terrific advantage. There’s not a weak link here."

https://nypost.com/2022/10/13/the-piano-lesson-broadway-review-a-blisteringly-acted-drama/

Three out of four stars

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/13/theater/the-piano-lesson-review.html

"...mostly entertaining but often underwhelming"

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/august-wilsons-piano-lesson-theater-review-1235241145/

"Samuel L. Jackson Soars in a Broadway Revival That Only Intermittently Hits the Right Notes"

certainly seems this could have used a more experienced director, unfortunate

I see a lot of the reviews are split on John David Washington. Nearly all of them acknowledge his volcanic and blustery approach to Boy Willie, but there seems to be a divide between those who think it was a bravura performance and those who think it was gratingly over-the-top

These reviews are puzzling; they seem very harsh on the direction, but overall seem positive re the performances and the overall experience. I cant wait to see it, simply because I've never seen the play before. And I'm guessing the play itself is critic-proof in terms of ticket sales.

I saw this last week and haven’t really thought twice about it since leaving the theater. I thought it was “fine”. Brooks was, for me, the standout in the production. I think she’s such a wonderful actress and really got a chance to shine here.

I am here now. Shirine is giving a wonderful performance. You would never know it’s her first time on. Haven’t seen Brooks of course, so I’m not sure how different they play it, etc.