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Jitney
By August Wilson
Directed by Jonathan Wilson
Produced by Pegasus Players
At Truman College O’Rourke Center
1145 W. Wilson Ave
Chicago, IL
Call 773-878-9761, tickets $17 - $25
Thursday thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 20 minutes with intermission
Through October 28, 2007
Take Jitney for a smooth ride
The first August Wilson drama, Jitney, of “The Pittsburgh Cycle” depicting African-American life throughout the 20th Century gives early glimpses of Wilson’s genius as both a story teller and a developer of fully rounded characters. Wilson’s poetic language is a blend of common street talk with lyrical metaphors sprinkled with self-deprecating humor.
In this drama, we are in the 70’s in a blighted area of the Hill District in Pittsburgh in a shabby office (terrific set by Timothy Mann) of a jitney cab company run by Becker (Alfred H. Wilson)—a stern boss who leads his drivers by a combination of example and commands. Becker is a respected good guy.
His drivers are a rich assortment of characters surely found at most taxi offices. Youngblood (Taj McCord in a powerful performance) is a Viet Nam vet working several jobs so he can provide a house for his woman and child. His woman, Rena (Heather Ireland) hears rumors from the gossip Turnbo (the commanding Ray Baker) that Youngblood is going out on her.
Fielding (Foster Williams, Jr.) drinks too much and raises Becker’s ire while Shealy (Sean Nix) sneaks into the office to receive calls for his ‘numbers’ business when Becker is out. Doub (J.J. McCormick) is the kind retired railroad worker who supplements his pension as a jitney. Philmore (Randolph Johnson) is a bell hop who visits for a ride. August Wilson paints an empathetic, often funny portrait of African-American life in the 70’s in Jitney with these unique characters.
Tension run high when the city threatens to teardown the office building as part of urban renewal. Becker threatens retirement. His world crashes when his son, Booster (M. K. Quaintance) returns after 20 years in prison for murder.
In the hands of a master storyteller like August Wilson, Jitney flows as high drama. Themes such as younger disrespecting older generations, the struggle to make a living and changing social order and the uprooting of older neighborhoods are aptly dealt with in Jitney.
The ensemble piece has several strong performances: Alfred H. Wilson’s intense Becker, Ray Baker as the gossiping troublemaker Turnbo together with Taj McCord’s moving turn as Youngblood. The entire cast articulated Wilson’s street language deftly. The powerful second act previews Wilson’s genius for high drama from empathetic realistic character caught struggling to survive in tough conditions. Jitney is a fine example of Wilson’s craft as a playwright. The language flows with humor, angst and hope. The spirit of humanity and simple nobility of these people rings loud and clear. August Wilson’s plays are fine theatre.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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