AUGUST WILSON: THE GROUND ON WHICH I STAND
AUGUST WILSON: THE GROUND ON WHICH I STAND
#1AUGUST WILSON: THE GROUND ON WHICH I STAND
Posted: 2/26/15 at 6:42pmPBS' American Masters aired this episode on August Wilson recently, and it doesn't look like any conversation has happened here. I found the archival footage and presented excerpts of each of the plays to be tremendous. Really, the chance to reckon with the astonishing scale and scope of the Cycle as a career achievement really hit me in a way it hadn't done before. The totality of what he created, I found myself awestruck watching as each play worked its way into his chronology. Truly, an American Master of the highest order. Really glad I checked it out and spent 80 great minutes in August's world.
Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.
followspot
Broadway Star Joined: 12/27/11
#2AUGUST WILSON: THE GROUND ON WHICH I STAND
Posted: 2/26/15 at 7:08pm
Agreed — an excellent profile and career overview.
Currently streamable online:
American Masters: August Wilson
"Tracy... Hold Mama's waffles."
FishermanBob
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/9/12
#2AUGUST WILSON: THE GROUND ON WHICH I STAND
Posted: 2/26/15 at 7:18pm
Sorry I missed it. Will have to check for replays. I've seen 9 out of the 10 plays plus his solo show "How I Learned What I Learned" performed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The level of his genius is staggering and the achievement of creating the cycle over 23 years finishing just a few months before his death and each and every one of those 10 plays being an outstanding piece of theater is still hard to comprehend.
Edit: Just reread followspot's post with the stream. Thanks. Will definitely watch.
Updated On: 2/26/15 at 07:18 PM
