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Radio Golf
By August Wilson
Directed by Kenny Leon
At the Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn
Chicago, IL
Call 312-443-3800, tickets $20 - $68
Tuesdays at 7:30 pm
Wednesdays at 7:30 pm
Thursdays at 2 & 7:30 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 2 & 8 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through February 25, 2007
Radio Golf is our last glimpse into the genius of August Wilson
The Goodman Theatre is the only American theatre to mount all 10 of August Wilson’s decade-by-decade exploration of the African-American experience. Radio Golf, set in the 1990’s, is Wilson’s only look at the emerging African-American upper middle class. The play deals with the poor versus the newly rich in a class struggle. It is a fitting end to Wilson’s magnificent achievement.
Radio Gulf draws heavily upon themes Wilson infused into the 10 part cycle: finding your “song” or “voice,” sharing and connecting with your past roots and spirits while featuring mystical characters. It is set in the Hill District in Pittsburgh where most of Wilson’s plays call home. David Gallo’s gigantic set is a cut-away dilapidated building centered with an office surrounded by an abandoned dinner on one side and old barbershop on the other. This is an apt symbol for the urban decay occurring in the 1990’s in the Hill District.
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The ambitious Harmond Wilkes (the charismatic Hassan El-Amin) has big plans for the Pittsburgh blighted area. He plans to build Bedford Hills, a slick new real estate development complete with Starbucks, Whole Foods and Blockbusters. This urban renewal could catapult Wilkes into becoming Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor. His loyal wife Mame (Michole Briana White) supports Harmond and is his press agent and campaign manager. His partner, Roosevelt Hicks (James A. Williams) is the Black yippy banker and golfer trapped in the money equals success condition.
The urban development needs the government to declare the area as “blighted” unleashing federal money. Everything is going smoothly until a mysterious stranger, Elder Joseph Barlow (Anthony Chisholm) arrives to tell Harmond that he owns Aunt Ester’s house at 1839 Wylie Avenue right in the middle of the proposed development. This event focuses Harmond to reconsider his values and his priorities toward success. Together with an old handyman, Sterling Johnson’s (John Earl Jelks) prodding, Harmond begins to think about reconnecting with his past roots. He develops a new appreciation to the traditions of the old neighborhood. The debate between the new upwardly mobile middle class and the traditions of the poor is deftly outlined in this smart show. Roosevelt, Mame argue with Harmond and Barlow and Johnson speak for the poor and the past traditions. Wilson delivers each point of view with telling arguments as he warns against throwing away the connection to the past for the glittery present.
This play nicely sums up and completes the cycle. It is too bad the world can’t experience more work from such a genius storyteller as August Wilson. Make sure you see all 10 Wilson plays. (I’ve seen 7 out of 10 and loved each.)
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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