AUGUST WILSON'S THE PIANO LESSON Reviews

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 3:23pm

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.

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 10:20pm

It's not a perfect production, but I would be surprised if this doesn't get glowing reviews. The acting company + writing carry this play and they're doing really fine work.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 11:55pm

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

[BWayBabe]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:54am

I can't believe I'm even writing this, but this production left much to be desired. Anyone who saw the production at The Signature Theater years ago with Chuck Cooper, Brandon Dirden, and Roslyn Ruff would agree. That production should have transferred. I was so excited to see this play again but mostly thought it never got off the ground. John David Washington was one note the whole night and sadly Danielle seemed terribly miscast. Michael Potts, April Matthis, and Ray Fischer were excellent but they all definitely have theater experience to handle the material.

Updated On: 10/13/22 at 09:54 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:26am

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

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:48am

BWayBabe said: "I can't believe I'm even writing this, but this production left much to be desired. Anyone who saw the production at The Signature Theater years ago with Chuck Cooper, Brandon Dirden, and Roslyn Ruff would agree. That production should have transferred. I was so excited to see this play again but mostly thought it never got off the ground. John David Washington was one note the whole night and sadly Danielle seemed terribly miscast. Michael Potts, April Matthis, and Ray Fischer were excellent but they all definitely have theater experience to handle the material."


I agree with everything you said. That production was far superior to the one currently on Broadway. I do think this cast makes up for it, even with the miscasting. I mean, it’s Samuel L Jackson!

[pethian]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 6:09pm

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.

 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 6:32pm

BWayBabe said: "Anyone who saw the production at The Signature Theater years ago with Chuck Cooper, Brandon Dirden, and Roslyn Ruff would agree. That production should have transferred."

That cast sounds like a dream. The Dirden Brother’s are so talented. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 8:50pm

 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."

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 8:54pm

https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/broadway/ny-broadway-20221014-gdu5zvavyrhyjitoeytglrfi74-story.html

"Act One is far stronger here than Act Two; the first half of the show is filled with compelling staging ideas and rich, specific acting, whereas things fall off the boil considerably in Act Two, when the choices become more general and feel less distinct, as if the show ran out of time in rehearsal.

But when it comes to Wilson’s poetry, visual metaphors and roiling ideas? All flowing here with eloquence and verve."

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 8:57pm

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

Three out of four stars

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:00pm

https://www.thewrap.com/piano-lesson-broadway-review-john-david-washington-samuel-l-jackson/

"John David Washington Gives a Master Class in Acting"

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:13pm

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

"...mostly entertaining but often underwhelming"

 

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:15pm

Based on these reviews, I think Salesman got better responses, right?

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:19pm

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"

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:41pm

DTLI Consensus: Though very well-acted and interpreted by a stellar cast, the Piano still needs a bit more tuning.

10 positive, 4 mixed (including the NYT). 

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/the-piano-lesson-2/

Updated On: 10/13/22 at 10:41 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 10/14/22 at 12:34am

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

[BJR]

Posted: 10/14/22 at 10:52am

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "certainly seems this could have used a more experienced director, unfortunate"

Yeah, I'm curious. I wonder if one didn't know her resume, they would get that, or is it merely how it's framed once you do know. Excited to see it, personally.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/14/22 at 11:11am

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

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/14/22 at 12:48pm

I spoke positively about the show when I saw it in early-ish previews. I wrote a posted saying it fell "just under" my high expectations, and saying that John David Washington had the MAKINGS of a powerhouse performance, but needed to time to find more variation in the performance.

I have to confess I've cooled on the production a little bit, in the last month or so. And I'm disappointed to read from these reviews that the production's rough edges weren't honed during previews. I think I was more forgiving of the production because all of the issues seemed like they were totally fixable: the actors just needed time to settle in, and the director just needed time to find the rhythm of the play as a whole. But the fact that some reviewers are pointing out some of the same uneasiness I saw in previews, is a little disheartening.

As for John David Washington's performance; I maintain that he has a potent stage presence, with a natural charisma, and a strong sense of who this character is. But I'll admit I've cooled off on his performance a bit too; the issues with the performance have nagged at me more than I expected, especially hearing some other people's criticisms of it, and realizing I agree. Again, it's disheartening to hear that he hasn't settled into the rhythm of the play over the course of previews.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/14/22 at 3:08pm

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.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 1:24pm

According to the Broadway Covers Twitter. Danielle Brooks is out until October 23, and Shirine Babb will play Berniece.

Updated On: 10/15/22 at 01:24 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 2:32pm

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. 

[Damiensta]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 3:05pm

TaffyDavenport said: "According to the Broadway Covers Twitter. Danielle Brooks is out until October 23, and Shirine Babb will play Berniece."

Darn guess I am missing Brooks this week

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 3:24pm

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.