SEVEN GUITARS by Carol Kaufman Segal
August Wilson’s play, Seven Guitars, playing at A Noise Within in Pasadena, offers insight into the struggles of African-Americans. Directed by Greg T. Daniel, and performed by an outstanding cast, the play takes place in the Pittsburg Hill District in 1948.
Upon opening, we find Vera (Cherish Monique Duke), Louise (Veralyn Jones), Hedley (Kevin Jackson), Canewell (DeJuan Christopher), and Red Carter (Amir Abdullah) in Vera’s backyard together after the funeral of their close friend Floyd Barton. Quickly it reverts back in time before Floyd’s death.
Floyd Barton, a very talented blues musician who had a hit record, returns home after being released from a 90-day sentence in a workhouse for vagrancy. He didn’t have money to pay despite the fact that he had pawned his guitar. Floyd came home to convince his girlfriend Vera to go back to Chicago with him where he hopes to become famous. He also wants his best friends, Red Carter and Canewell to join him in order to record an album with him. (Canewell also happens to be in love with Vera.)
On a morning, Canewell comes by and gives Vera a Goldenseal plant before going with Floyd to collect payment for his time in the workhouse. Floyd intends to buy back his guitar. Unfortunately, he is not able to get the money because he did not have the proper documentation for proof of his time. Therefore, he is unable to buy back his guitar.
When Louise sees Vera in the yard, she tells her that her niece Ruby (Sydney A. Mason) is coming to be with her from Alabama. Ruby is pregnant and is searching for a father! Red Carter stops by later to give them the news that his wife has given birth. A few days later, Hedley is out grilling his lunch while singing about a man named Buddy Bolden. When Ruby asks him who he was, Hedley says he was a famous musician and that he had a dream that his father told him that Buddy was going to give him money to purchase a plantation!
Later Floyd has good news from his manager that he has booked him, Canewell and Red Carter to play at the Blue Goose Club, with promises of retrieving his guitar for him and paying him an advance. Finally, good news regarding money, but not for long! The next day, his manager gets arrested for an insurance scam, which means no advance money in which to retrieve his guitar.
Floyd goes away for two days, and when he returns, he buries something in the yard. When Vera shows up, she agrees to go back with him. Later, as everyone is getting ready to go to the Blue Goose, Canewell tells them that he heard there was a robbery in which one man was killed and two others escaped with the money.
When they return from the Blue Goose, Canewell re-plants Vera’s Goldenseal plant and discovers hidden cash. Floyd says it is his, and Canewell now knows who one of the other robbers is and leaves him. Meanwhile, Hedley, who has had too much to drink is outside and sees Floyd counting the money. Hedley mistakes him for Buddy Bolden and thinks he has come to give him his money. When Floyd refuses to give the cash to him, Hedley cuts Floyd’s throat. It always turns out that Floyd can never get the money he needs!
Returning back to the gathering of Floyd’s friends following his funeral, it appears that the police do not have any idea about who killed Floyd. Meanwhile, there are only two of Floyd’s friends left in the yard, Canewell and Hedley.
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Performances are Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 PM, Friday, Oct. 29 at 8 PM, Sat., Oct. 30 at 2 PM & 8 PM, Sunday, Oct. 31 at 2 PM, (Post Show Conversation), Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 PM, Fri. Nov. 5 at 8 PM (Post-Show Conversation), Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2 PM and 8 PM, Sunday, Nov. 7 at 2 PM and 7 PM (Sunday Rush), Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 PM, Friday, Nov. 12 at 8 PM (Post-Show Conversation), Saturday, Nov. 13 at 2 PM and 8 PM, Sunday, Nov.14 at 2 PM
Tickets online: www.anoisewithin.org Tickets by Phone: 626-356-3121
Ticket at Box Office: 3352 Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 9110
Regular Prices: Single tickets from $25, Student Rush with ID an hour before performance - $20
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