“These bones got to rise again.”
The revival of August Wilson's play Joe Turner's Come and Gone is now in performance at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway. Directed by Debbie Allen, the production began its run following a preview period.
Production Details
The creative team includes Paul Tazewell (costumes), David Gallo (sets), Stacey Derosier (lighting), and Justin Ellington (sound). The running time is 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one intermission.
Cast
The cast features:
- Cedric the Entertainer as Seth Holly
- Taraji P. Henson as Bertha Holly
- Joshua Boone as Herald Loomis
- Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Bynum Walker
- Bradley Stryker as Rutherford Selig
- Nimene Sierra Wureh
- Savannah Commodore
- Abigail Onwunali
Plot and Context
The play is the second work in Wilson's ten-play Pittsburgh Cycle. Set in 1911 in Pittsburgh, the story takes place at a boarding house run by Seth and Bertha Holly.
A newcomer, Herald Loomis, arrives seeking his wife. Loomis is depicted as a man traumatized after seven years of forced labor, with the narrative exploring his search aided by a "conjure man" named Bynum Walker.
Critical Response
Critical reception has noted the play's thematic exploration of the legacy of slavery and the characters' search for identity. Some reviewers have commented that the staging occasionally lacked intensity.