August Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" at the Belasco Theatre

The first thing to say is that the cast for this production is absolutely splendid, top to bottom.  They are thoroughly engaged, thoroughly in character, and enthralling to watch.  Next to say is that this is a fascinating look-in at a culture that is strange to me - African-American Pittsburgh 1911.  So I have no way of judging verisimilitude -- but it certainly has a ring to it.  Wilson was famous for his insight into the history of the black community in America.  According to news reports, he insisted during his lifetime that only a black director could properly animate his scripts, but after his death, his widow has given permission for theater companies to proceed with non-black directors.  In this case, the work has been entrusted by Lincoln Center Theater to the very talented Bartlett Sher, who piloted the successful revival of South Pacific for that company.  I loved the production and direction, but I'm an outside looking in.

I did find the final scene quite puzzling - but from audience comments exiting theater, I imagine it was not puzzling to a Christian African-American audience.  It seemed to me that the overt Jesus imagery at the end was a strange twist after a lengthy play that had no overt religiosity about it - at least that I could see.   But historians tell us of the pervasive influence of the black church, and of black ministers -- and, after all, a central character is supposed to have been a church deacon at one time.

As I mentioned, the entire cast was terrific, but I was especially taken by Andre Holland, who plays the enthusiastic young Jeremy, the roadworker with wanderlust in his heart and an eye for the ladies - a not so consistent eye.  Holland, making his Broadway debut in this role, is definitely one to watch out for....