August Wilson was a prolific playwright who wrote about the 20th century African American experience. His works, several of which, including Two Trains Running premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre, were important plays on Broadway and translated into powerful films. He’s best known for his 10-play “The Pittsburgh Cycle”, which included Two Trains Running, Fences and The Piano Lesson. He’s won two Pulitzer Prizes, a Tony, and numerous other theatre awards. His plays regularly appear on area stages. The Majestic in West Springfield will present Fences in a few weeks, and Shakespeare & Company will present The Piano Lesson in July.
Two Trains Running, set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 1968, takes place in Memphis Lee’s restaurant, aptly designed by Lawrence E. Motin III, which is about to be taken by the city. The cafe is a hangout for a group of regulars, who have developed a sense of community. Memphis is looking for a fair price for the place, and his employees and regulars, impacted by their uncertain future, provide the impetus for Wilson’s play.
