Reviews for Jitney

The average rating for Jitney based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-04-28 00:00:00 Ali Taherinejad Jitney, first composed in 1979, was the first of August Wilson's "Century Cycle" to be written and the last to reach Broadway (in 2017). Although extensively revised in 1996, it still seems like an early play: sunnier, with a "slice-of-life" realist feel, lacking the dark music and expressionistic touches that one comes to expect from August Wilson. Still, as is always true in a Wilson play, the language is vivid, and the portrait of the black neighborhoods of Pittsburgh is both palpable and believable. The story'what there is of it'centers around an unofficial cab stand located in Pittsburgh's inner city, where the drivers of "jitneys" (unlicensed taxicabs) gather to receive their assignments from Becker their respected manager. The regular drivers range from steady old Korean war vet Doub to alcoholic former "tailor-to-the stars" Fielding and the irascible, always up-in-your-business Turnbo, whom nobody seems to like. The main story involves the relationship between Vietnam vet Darnell and Rena, the mother of his little son Jesse, who love each other but have not yet learned to trust. And there other unsettling matters at the jitney station too: Becker's son has just been released from prison, and there are rumors that the Pittsburgh Housing Authority is planning to tear the old jitney stand down. For a taste of Wilson's wonderful language, I give you the voice of Rena, who has just learned Darnell has been planning to "surprise" her with a house, and who is not nearly as happy with the idea as Darnell expects her to be. (I love this passage, because I'm convinced most women'including my wife'would feel much the same way): You gonna surprise me with a house? Don't do that. A new TV maybe. A stereo . . . a couch . . . a refrigerator . . . okay. But don't surprise me with a house that I didn't even have the chance to pick out! . . . You can't surprise me with a house and I'm supposed to say, "Oh Darnell, that's nice." at one time I would have. But I'm not seventeen no more. I have responsibilities. I want to kow if it has a hookup for a washer and dryer 'cause I got to wash Jesse's clothes. I want to know if it has a yard and do it have a fence and how far Jesse has to go to school. I ain't thinking about where to put the TV. That's not what's important to me. And you supposed to know, Darnell. You supposed to know what's important to me like I'm supposed to know what's important to you. I'm not asking you to do it by yourself. I'm here with you. We in this together.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-12-23 00:00:00 John Lloyd Jitney is play #8 in August Wilson's Century Cycle. Jitney tells the story of a group of men who run a cab service. Wilson focuses on their livelihood, their dreams, and their imperfections. I enjoyed the cast of characters as well as the monologues from a few of them. Although very minor I did like reading the references to characters in earlier plays. However, I felt the ending was a little lacking. Fences is still the best of the plays so far. Two more to go.