The Piano Lesson

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 11/15/12 at 4:31pm

Seeing this tomorrow, and based upon Signatures' success with Wilson plays, I have high expectations for greatness. Any one have a chance to see this production yet?

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 11/15/12 at 9:58pm

I am so looking forward to this. A great play from a great theater.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 12:32pm

Saw it last night and was very impressed. A fine production of a fine play. Very moving and always very entertaining.

My one complaint is that one of the actors isn't operating at quite the same level of excellence that the others are, and since he's basically the lead, it is a real problem. Check it out and see what you think.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 12:40pm

It's a superb production, well-directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson and acted by a great ensemble cast. (Roscoe, if I'm thinking of the same actor as you--I agree to a point, but I didn't find it to be an overall detriment to the power of the production) Chuck Cooper's performance is nothing short of astonishing. Go see it. Signature really does theatre well.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/16/12 at 12:44pm

AC -- I bet we're thinking of the same actor. A problem, and the production rose above it, but I can't help thinking that the production would have so much more impact if someone of Jeffrey Wright's abilities had been cast in the role. The production packs a wallop as it is, but it could have been a real knockout.

Don't let my complaining deter anyone from seeing this. If you give a damn about that thing called theater as being anything other than dancing newsboys, you owe it to yourself to see this production.

And yes, Chuck Cooper is brilliant.

[CAX]

Posted: 11/26/12 at 6:03pm

Not too much being said about this show. Is it a remarkable production? I want to see it, but haven't heard much (or any) word of mouth.

[misto625]

Posted: 11/26/12 at 10:52pm

I saw this show at the beginning of the month, and I thought this production was magnificent, very powerful and haunting. I do have a small quibble with the casting in that the characters who were supposed to be a family didn't seem to really be related to each other in terms of looks/actions, and that was a little distracting to me.

[CAX]

Posted: 11/27/12 at 12:05am

I'm intrigued. The older characters or the central siblings? I'm a fan of the play, read and have always heard Samuel L Jackson was amazing as Boy Willie in the original.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/27/12 at 12:44am

CAX, Samuel L. Jackson only understudied Boy Willie in the original production. Charles S. Dutton originated the role.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/27/12 at 8:59am

Jackson played Boy Willie in the first production at Yale. He also performed the role more than a few times during the original production, so it's plausible that Cax could be referring to people who saw him go on for Dutton, or who saw the Yale production.

Is it a remarkable production? I want to see it, but haven't heard much (or any) word of mouth.


It received unanimously rave reviews, and all of the (admittedly few) reports on here and on ATC have been positive. To me, it is one of the best things I've seen this year, and one of the essential tickets to be had presently in New York. So, it short, yes it's remarkable and worth seeing.

Updated On: 11/27/12 at 08:59 AM

[CAX]

Posted: 11/27/12 at 11:39am

Thank you. Yes, I was referring to the Yale production. It is my understanding that Dutton and Jackson shared parts on more than a few productions of Wilson's plays.

[Sauja]

Posted: 11/27/12 at 12:11pm

I'm with AC (and the critics). Easily one of the best productions of the year. I was coming off a run of attending shows that were disappointing or downright bad, and this was such a welcome shot in the arm reminding me just how astonishing great theater can be.

I'm curious which actor Roscoe is saying wasn't at the same level as the other performers. I have one actor in mind who for me gave a very, very good performance that just happened to be surrounded by truly great ones.

All in all, a wonderful, beautiful, moving, thoughtful production. Not to be missed.

[misto625]

Posted: 11/27/12 at 8:12pm

I was referring to the central siblings being off in my post. They just didn't seem like brother and sister. Lyman and Boy Willie seemed to have more kinship.

[CAX]

Posted: 11/27/12 at 10:50pm

Misto, that would make sense since the actors playing Lyman and Boy Willie are real life brothers. Not sure that's something that should register in the play.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 11/30/12 at 12:12am

A transporting production of Wilson's greatest achievement. I see no weak links in the first rate cast. Cooper is extraordinary.

Updated On: 11/30/12 at 12:12 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/9/13 at 11:30pm

I had the pleasure of seeing this tonight. I wasn't really expecting to love it, but I did. A great way to kick off my 2013 theatergoing year. I thought the performances were uniformly fantastic, particularly Chuck Cooper, James A. Williams, and Roslyn Ruff. I agree that Brandon J. Durden is the weakest member of the cast and is almost cartoonishly animated and over the top at times but he had his strong moments. I was quite moved by it and was totally entertained for the 3 hours it ran. It's a wonderful production and I'm really glad I got to see it before it closed. Absolutely worth trying to snag a ticket to before it closes in a week and a half.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/10/13 at 10:08am

I want to see this so bad! I love Wilson, and this is one of my favorite plays. I'm kicking myself for having missed it.

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/10/13 at 11:49am

It's still playing through January 20, and there are still some tickets available. If you have the opportunity you should go down and try to snag a seat. It really is worth it.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 1/10/13 at 12:15pm

I'm going to try and snag a ticket to this next week. Wish me luck!

[macnyc]

Posted: 1/10/13 at 12:17pm

If you don't mind paying $75 a ticket, they are available. I love a discount as much as the next person, but I figure it's worth the price! I'm going next Saturday.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/10/13 at 12:59pm

I got my ticket through TDF ($27) so keep checking there!

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/10/13 at 1:24pm

Even if you have to pay full price, it's worth it. (And $75 is cheap, comparatively--it's half what you'd pay to see a Broadway revival, and for my money, much higher quality than anything currently on the main stem)

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 1/10/13 at 3:58pm

Wow, I haven't seen them on TDF at all. Thanks for the heads up! I'm not entirely opposed to paying full price, I just know some people in the cast and am exhausting all my options before doing so.

[macnyc]

Posted: 1/10/13 at 4:38pm

I saw it on TDF only briefly, and I think it was for a Wednesday.

[PTOPhan]

Posted: 1/10/13 at 5:55pm

I'm thrilled to hear how much everyone enjoyed Chuck Cooper's performance. Although I've never seen him in a production or met him, I went to high school with his wife, who is a playwright, herself. I've become a fan of his through that connection and look forward to seeing him in something, soon.