THE PIANO LESSON Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/18/22 at 12:28am

The first Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson begins previews tomorrow night at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, prior to an October 13 official opening. Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Brooks lead the company as Doaker Charles, Boy Willie, and Berniece; rounding out the cast are Trai Byers, Nadia Daniel, Ray Fisher, April Matthis, Michael Potts, and Jurnee Swan. LaTanya Richardson Jackson helms the production — her Broadway directorial debut. The Piano Lesson will conclude its limited engagement on January 15.

“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.”

Who’s going?

[Melissa25]

Posted: 9/18/22 at 7:41am

Looking forward to this! I’ll be there on Friday.

[PeterC6482]

Posted: 9/19/22 at 1:47pm

Anyone here at the final dress rehearsal?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 9/19/22 at 4:17pm

Updated On: 9/19/22 at 04:17 PM

[PeterC6482]

Posted: 9/19/22 at 6:00pm

please delete..posted blank message in error.

Updated On: 9/19/22 at 06:00 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/19/22 at 11:57pm

Any first preview reports?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/20/22 at 12:24pm

Anyone?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/20/22 at 1:51pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Anyone?"

 

No one likes a noodge, Jordan.  We'll post when we're good and ready.

[April Saul]

Posted: 9/21/22 at 9:45am

Hey all--I'm going tonight and will report back. In the meantime, for travel purposes, it'd be extremely helpful to know the running time.  If anyone who went and didn't feel like reviewing the show could share that, I'd be very grateful

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/21/22 at 10:06am

April Saul said: "Hey all--I'm going tonight and will report back. In the meantime, for travel purposes, it'd be extremely helpful to know the running time. If anyone who went and didn't feel like reviewing the show could share that, I'd be very grateful "

Telecharge lists a 2 hour 45 minute runtime, including intermission. 

[expectingtheworst]

Posted: 9/21/22 at 1:42pm

April Saul said: "Hey all--I'm going tonight and will report back. In the meantime, for travel purposes, it'd be extremely helpful to know the running time. If anyone who went and didn't feel like reviewing the show could share that, I'd be very grateful "

My friend went last night and said 3 hours including intermission.

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 9/21/22 at 3:13pm

I was at the second preview performance - an unforgettable night at the theatre.  An exceptional ensemble cast , including a powerhouse performance by John David Washington in his Broadway debut!  Ray Fisher also shined in his Broadway debut.  I found it to be a powerful and thrilling production under the direction of LaTanya Richardson.

[troynow]

Posted: 9/22/22 at 8:45am

I attended last night. Run time 2:50 mins. w/intermission.

Must say completely moved but this show. WOW. Never read or saw the Piano Lesson before. Sometimes when stories have "pasts" I  often get concerned inside that I need to brace myself for a "history"lesson. Kind of like eat your vegetables even when you don';t want them. THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE. 

Sam Jackson is incredibly funny and heart warming, arguably Tony worthy. Sam is the generational tie. However, John Washington..... WOW. What a beautiful broadway debut and powerful ,raw, and emotional. Much like the discovery of Jenifer Holiday. 

Bought tickets for another night this morning. 

This is my vote for revival so far.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 9/22/22 at 8:58am

troynow said: "I attended last night. Run time 2:50 mins. w/intermission.

Must say completely moved but this show. WOW. Never read or saw the Piano Lesson before. Sometimes when stories have "pasts" I often get concerned inside that I need to brace myself for a "history"lesson. Kind of like eat your vegetables even when you don';t want them. THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE.

Sam Jackson is incredibly funny and heart warming, arguably Tony worthy. Sam is the generational tie. However, John Washington..... WOW. What a beautiful broadway debut and powerful ,raw, and emotional. Much like the discovery of Jenifer Holiday.

Bought tickets for another night this morning.

This is my vote for revival so far."

Thanks for the review. Did you happen to notice what merch they were selling now? I went to Salesman but they were not selling window card yet. If it was the same for Piano Lesson I guess I go few weeks later 

 

thanks 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 9/22/22 at 9:00am

troynow said: "However, John Washington..... WOW. What a beautiful broadway debut and powerful ,raw, and emotional. Much like the discovery of Jenifer Holiday."

He is Denzel's son, after all! I have loved him in his previous work, looking forward to it.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 9/22/22 at 11:03am

They haven't announced rush/lottery yet have they?  I checked a couple dates next week and the mezz looked like it still had a lot of availability.

[April Saul]

Posted: 9/22/22 at 2:07pm

Wow! I went last night and they did a great job with it, did not at all seem like an early preview. Samuel Jackson was as good as he always is, but John David Washington in the much showier part really brought the house down in his Broadway debut. Ray Fisher was excellent in his first Broadway play as well. I had been thinking I'd wait to see what the rush policy was, but was so glad I took advantage of the B'way week 2-for-1 deal and got 5th row seats for about $70 each...in case there's any seats still available for that promotion. Didn't look for merch but there was an audience member staged-dooring with a very nice window card in her hand.

I was with someone who'd gone to school with one of the actors and wanted to congratulate him so we hung out by the stage door for a while but it was a frustrating experience. Washington smiled and waved to the crowd, but Jackson and others literally snuck out skillfully without acknowledging folks. No judgments here--I'm sure it was a long two-show day and we're not even completely out of COVID--just giving information.

No masks required but there's a taped message from Jackson at the beginning of the show that asks people to wear them out of consideration, so I did. And it was truly nearly a three-hour play, even though the usher I asked estimated two-and-a-half.  But very well done and I'd think Tony-worthy!

[troynow]

Posted: 9/23/22 at 9:36am

Thanks for the review. Did you happen to notice what merch they were selling now? I went to Salesman but they were not selling window card yet. If it was the same for Piano Lesson I guess I go few weeks later

 

Piano Lesson IS selling merch and WINDOW CARDS. They havde bags, t-shirts sweatshirts and more stuff. 

[rj1060]

Posted: 9/23/22 at 2:10pm

chrishuyen said: "They haven't announced rush/lottery yet have they? I checked a couple dates next week and the mezz looked like it still had a lot of availability."

 

I keep checking but haven't seen anything yet. Fingers crossed they come out with this info soon.

Updated On: 9/23/22 at 02:10 PM

[supersam1026]

Posted: 9/23/22 at 3:11pm

Just stopped by the box office to ask, they still don’t have anything, said to check back in the next few weeks.

[troynow]

Posted: 9/24/22 at 9:57am

I also suspect if the shows does well the rush policy may be delayed or not at all. We'll have to look at their grosses this week. Which will be interesting to compare  Salesman and Piano Lesson. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/24/22 at 10:34am

This struck me as a solid production, with maybe a few pacing issues to be worked out in previews; some scenes drag, and I’m not sure they’ve quite nailed the dramatic arc of the piece. But overall, it’s very strong; it’s well-acted, deeply felt, and faithfully performs Wilson’s rich text. I also thought the handling of the “spooky” moments was very effective.

I agree that John David Washington is the highlight of the production; his performance has the MAKINGS of a powerhouse, but maybe not quite there yet. For his stage debut, he already seems extremely comfortable, and his charismatic stage presence anchors the production. I just hope he finds a bit more of the dynamic levels in the performance; right now, it’s all pitched at the same high energy point, and he keeps returning to the same few gestures and line deliveries, regardless of the scene’s mood. But that can easily come with more time in the role. And again, he’s already very good, and feels like a fully realized character. 

To call him a “discovery” though, is a little comical. Not only because he’s Denzel Washington’s son, but also because he’s already an established film star in his own right. But yes, I’m glad we’ve “discovered” his proclivity for the stage. 

Samuel L Jackson’s role is relatively small; he’s onstage a lot, but doesn’t have a ton to sink his teeth into, for such a huge name. But he still brings all the refined skill you’d expect him to bring to any role. 

As for Danielle Brooks: I LOVED her in Color Purple, I LOVED her in Much Ado, and I…liked her in this. She handled the heavy, emotional scenes really well, but seemed a little uneasy during the more natural, casual scenes. Again, something that can very well improve with time in the role. 

The ensemble here is really strong; Rai Fisher, Trai Bryers, and Michael Potts all shine in supporting roles, and even April Matthis is a stand-out with only 2 short scenes. At times, I felt like they even outshined their more famous co-stars. 

The play (which I was seeing for the 1st time) has Wilson’s trademark richness, presenting this lived-in world, with fleshed out characters. The central plot device surrounding the piano makes for extremely compelling drama, both on a character level, and a thematic/metaphorical level. 

Even though I’ve seen/read my fair share of 20th century classics, it can still be a little jarring to note how different these old-fashioned plays are, structurally. A modern playwright would’ve written this as a 2-hander, where Berniece and Boy Willie spend 90 minutes hashing it out over the piano. Whereas this play feels like LITERATURE. It’s what makes Wilson brilliant, but it’s also a lot to absorb in one sitting, and maybe difficult for modern directors to fully tackle the breadth of the drama onstage. 

Overall, I’d say this production fell SLIGHTLY below my expectations, but considering my expectations were pretty high, falling slightly below them is still a good place to be in. 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 11:45pm

I must have seen a very different production than others as I think Washington gives one of the worst performances I have ever seen in recent memory. Endless, rapid shouting - often unintelligible - and exhaustingly one-note. Surrounded by terrific talent, further exposing his weaknesses. He ruined an otherwise lovely production for me.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/26/22 at 11:57pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "I must have seen a very different production than others"

 

^well, I did say I found it one-note, and pitched at an overly high energy point. So we obviously saw the same performance lol - I guess I just found more to like about it than you did.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 12:07am

It sounds like some of the early criticisms are related to the direction, and LaTanya's involvement as director does give me some pause since she's never directed anything close to this scale before. I'm excited for this production, but maybe I'll wait a bit.