When the late Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson completed
”
Radio Golf,
”
it was felt he did not have time to complete the play as he
would have desired. This was the last of his 10 plays chronicling
the African American experience in the 20th century.
When the late Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson completed “Radio Golf,” it was felt he did not have time to complete the play as he would have desired. This was the last of his 10 plays chronicling the African American experience in the 20th century.
Wilson, who died in 2005, would have been amazed at the parallels that “Radio Golf” follows in the political arena of today.
“Radio Golf” tells of a young, well-educated African American politician running for mayor in 1997 in a neglected, blighted Pittsburgh neighborhood. He has to face his morality, doing the right thing and losing his dreams or looking the other way and go forward with his ambitions. (Sound familiar?)
Esteemed Stanford scholar Harry J, Elam Jr. took “Radio Golf” to directional heights, with a pristine cast that brought “Radio Golf” to an outstanding experience.
Aldo Billingslea as the idealistic mayoral candidate Harmond Wilks is superb and brings in a deep heartfelt performance.
The always solid C. Kelly Wright as Harmond’s loving, aspiring wife brings just enough determination not to settle at any cost. Anthony J Haney as Roosevelt Hicks, L. Peter Callender as Sterling Johnson and Charles Branklyn as Elder Joseph Barlow complete this cast of consummate actors that create a moment in theatre that is worth every moment spent at this performance.
Here is an especially well done panoramic view of contemporary politics. “Radio Golf” gives us as individuals that moment to mentally classify within ourselves of what we would have done in Wilks place.
TheatreWorks always comes up with original, superbly well-done theatre. This is an example of their exquisite taste in bringing this play to fruition. “Radio Golf” is the fourth TheatreWorks production of August Wilson’s plays.
For an evening of fine theatre, TheatreWorks “Radio Golf” will most definitely satisfy
Camille Bounds is the Theatre and Arts Editor for Sunrise Publications.
—
‘Radio Golf’
Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays; through Nov. 2.
Tickets: $23-$61
Details: (650) 903-6000 or www.theatreworks.org
