Only recently released from the penitentiary after serving some time for robbing a bank, sterling is new to the scene of two trains running. A documentary about the search for two forgotten blues singers, set in mississippi during the height of the civil rights movement. Two trains running plot summary, character breakdowns, context and analysis, and performance video clips. In 1966 i found my love in 1967 i had all there was and as my time went by i was satisfied until that situation took me by surprise now theres two trains runnin on.
Like every play in the late wilsons landmark, 10script cycle of black pittsburgh life in the 20th century, two trains running is, in essence, a blues song saturated with wry humor, big. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. August wilson surged to the forefront of american playwrights wi. Two trains runnin is about the search for two forgotten blues singers, set in mississippi during the height of the civil rights movement. Two trains running characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. Two trains running is a play by american playwright august wilson, the sixth in his tenpart series the pittsburgh cycle. Two trains running 1969 is a script to a play with seven characters memphis, wolf, risa, holloway, sterling, hambone, and west this takes place in pittsburgh, in the year 1969. My mother told my father well before i was born you got a boy child coming sure is gonna be hes gonna be the boy will be a rolling stone s. Two trains running one of the exceptional qualities of august wilsons 10play cycle about the africanamerican experience is the late playwrights unique ability to create miniaturist portraiture. It is the 1960s, and the neighborhood is about to go through major economic development and gentrification. The action of the play takes place in a restaurant in the beginning across the street from wests funeral home. Complete summary of august wilsons two trains running. All of the onstage characters in two trains running, which opens at seattle rep on january 12 and runs through february 11, have some sense of.
Featuring a captivating sliceoflife cast of characters, two trains running is celebrated playwright august wilsons portrait of a defining moment in american history. He is in his late forties, and his character description terms him, self. August wilsons two trains running at syracuse stage 20. Find all available study guides and summaries for two trains running by august wilson. The characters in two trains running are directly affected by the whites ability to make and interpret rules, to the disadvantage of blacks. The film pays tribute to a pioneering generation of musicians and cuts to the heart of our present moment, offering a crucial vantage from which to view the evolving dynamics of race in america. August wilsons play two trains running is all about money. The events of two trains running, occurring over a span of three hours par for wilsons course, are not of the tsunami energy order of a work like fences, with its big oedipal. Two trains running is a play by american playwright august wilson. Two trains runnin is a featurelength documentary directed by sam pollard, narrated by common, and featuring the music of gary clark jr. Two trains running summary and analysis like sparknotes free. When hambone painted a fence, the white butcher who. A scene from two trains runnin, sam pollards documentary built around an astonishing historical coincidence.
Two trains running by august wilson is a powerful and meaningful play wrapped in a layer of humor and subtlety. Hambone is a mentally disturbed, or possibly mentally handicapped, man who repeats the same two phrases continually. View notes two trains running analysis from english 200 at allegheny college. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this two trains running study guide and get instant access to the following summary. Risa, a young woman who has scarred her legs with a razor to deflect the. Note to patrons regarding covid19 home jubilee theatre. Further study suggestions for further reading further study suggestions for further reading. This study guide consists of approximately 28 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of two trains running. It was then performed at the huntington theatre boston, massachusetts, the seattle repertory theatre seattle, washington, and the old globe theatre, san diego, california the play premiered on broadway at the walter kerr theatre on april, 1992. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of two trains running by august wilson.
If there is a sparknotes, shmoop, or cliff notes guide, we will have it. Two trains running was first performed by the yale repertory theatre in new haven, connecticut in march 1990. The seventh play is august wilsons pittsburgh cycle, two trains running takes place in a restaurant run by a man named memphis lee. Memphis lees small restaurant is the setting of august wilsons two trains running.