The Piano Lesson

The Piano Lesson is a tale of historical conflict writ small: slavery, Reconstruction, and the great migration to northern industrial cities from the agrarian South are compressed and wound tightly into the dispute between two siblings over a family piano. The high points of Celebration Arts’ production are too numerous to detail in full, but surely include a star turn from the gifted and energetic Romann Hodge as Boy Willie and the repressed rage of Wanel Thomas as his sister Berniece. While the talented—and young—cast deserves much of the credit for the excellence of the production, veteran theater-goers will offer kudos to esteemed director Michael W. Benjamin, whose experience and skill make this production of August Wilson’s modern classic a must-see.
Celebration Arts, 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday; $8-$15. 4469 D Street, (916) 455-2787, www.celebrationarts.net. Through April 21.