JITNEY by August Wilson. Lyttelton Theatre in rep to 21 November
Royal National Theatre.
JITNEY
by August Wilson.
Lyttelton Theatre In rep to 21 November 2001.
Runs 2hr 45min One interval.
TICKETS 020 7452 3000.
Review Timothy Ramsden 22 October.
Life among Pittsburgh drivers catches every nuance of a fine script in deeply-felt performances.
So, they do write them like that any more. In America anyway, from where this production of Wilson's 20 year old play, part of a planned 12 play survey of 20th century Black American experience, arrives in a co-production by Stanhope Productions, Sageworks and Center Theatre Group.
On a rundown, and soon to be pulled down, Pittsburgh street in the late seventies, Jim Becker (Roger Robinson) still just about keeps order among the jitney, or private hire car, drivers who make their non-taxed income from being next in line at the 'phone when a call comes. He has his rules; just as well when there's a potentially fatal stand-off between two of his drivers, angry Youngblood (Russell Andrews) and the interfering Turnbo (Stephen McKinley Henderson).
Becker's big crisis comes when his 39 year old son is released from prison. Convicted for killing the rich white woman who lied that he'd raped her, Booster (Keith Randolph Smith) is determined to put the past behind him, but Becker, who'll do anything to help other people, rejects the son who disappointed him and his dead wife. Their argument forms the first act climax and is never resolved, unlike the breach between Youngblood and his girl Rena (Yvette Ganier), which offers a balancing optimism.
Wilson's script moves carefully, at times maybe over-deliberately, first building character then feeding in storylines. Though the pace suddenly shifts with three shorter scenes at the end, the general slow build and pacing demands respect for these people.
Every performance has the lived-in quality that makes real the tension that can arise from nowhere over a 30 cent cup of coffee, or the disappointment and frustration of Rena and Youngblood when they cannot reconcile their anger and their love. Marion McClinton's production carries this reality beyond the rudimentary office as characters walk or pass in the street outside the huge window in David Gallo's downtown setting.
Youngblood: Russell Andrews.
Turnbo: Stephen McKinley Henderson.
Fielding: Anthony Chisholm.
Doub: Barry Shabaka Henley.
Shealy: Willis Burks II.
Philmore: Leo V Finnie III.
Becker: Roger Robinson.
Rena: Yvette Ganier.
Booster: Keith Randolph Smith.
Director: Marion McClinton.
Designer: David Gallo.
Costumes: Susan Hilferty.
Lighting: Donald Holder.
Sound: Rob Milburn.
Fight director: David Leong.
2001-10-23 01:07:35