| "East Texas Hot Links" by Eugene and praise for Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre | |
| Last Edit: Ann 09:34 am EDT 10/22/17 | |
| Posted by: Ann (annm@talkinbroadway.com) 09:30 am EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| I saw a superb local production of this 1991 play by Eugene Lee. I hadn't heard of it before, but apparently it played the NY Public Theatre in 1994 (NY Times review linked below). Does anyone remember it? It's a 90-minute play, with the first hour filled to the brim with the conversations of a group of Texans in the Top o' the Hill Cafe (serving bottled beer, moonshine, peanuts, and pickled pigs feet). Through highly entertaining, authentic, and well-written banter between pairs and among groups of these folks (including "giving each other shit" about a lot of things, plus some sex-talk and flirting, and near-fisticuffs), we quickly learn personalities and relationships. The last half hour, as the review tells, is an explosion (figuratively and literally) of sins revealed, racially motivated violence, and a hint of justice. The local production is by Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, who has hosted my favorite productions of August Wilson's plays and other always-involving productions in a small theater. There is great direction here (directing debut) from Montae Russell (the Monte Russell in the NY Times review, as the youngest member of the Public cast!). Mr. Lee writes wonderful dialogue, and this production is edge-of-your-seat stuff all the way - at the beginning, to make sure you don't miss a word, and later, because of true tension. I agree with the Times review the second part comes a bit more abruptly than would be perfect, but I felt all through the first part that something big was going to happen. And I was already on the edge of my seat ;) The playwright has done a lot of good work as an actor here, including last year's Between Riverside and Crazy at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. I know there are a few Pittsburghers who post and read here, and I encourage you all to visit the little 3rd-floor downtown Liberty Ave theater (you can locate it during the day by the always-present group of protesters at the Planned Parenthood next door) to see this play before November 5. And check out the rest of their season: In The Heat of the Night, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and their Theatre Festival in Black and White. |
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| Link | NY Times Review |
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