When I saw Joe Turner I thought the production was so magnificent and such a cohesive whole. And I thought it was the best directed and the best play of Wilson's I've ever seen.
After I thought,Obama should really see this and what a pity if he didn't get away from D.C. to see it. So I am very happy he's seeing this masterpiece of Black cultural drama. If I had to pick one play from the whole season I would list as a "must see" for him, this is it. It is an incredibly wonderful realization of the artist's vision of the play, which also excels.
What if he chose to see "Hair" instead and neglected this work? That would be a slap in the face to the legacy of August Wilson who pushed for opportunity in the theatre and inclusion and perhaps helped create the situation which allowed our entire culture to elect Obama.
This work is further collaborative with Bart Sher, a Caucasian, directing. It is breaking new ground of racial inclusion in that way also since while alive, Wilson would not have allowed Sher as a non-Black director to direct on Broadway, but his widow decided it is about the work, the art itself, and allowed it.
Now it would be wonderful if he could catch another show as well, but how much time does he have and he probably would like to try a restaurant or museum and needs to visit with people since it looks like his visit is very short.
Updated On: 5/30/09 at 12:55 PM
