“Two Trains Running”
Introduction
The play of focus in this research article is two trains running by August Wilson. August Wilson is an American playwright. Two trains running had a great impact in relation to the number of awards and nominations in the past and present media content and viewership. Recently, in 2007, the play won two significant awards: Audelco and Lucille Lortel Awards for dramatic production of the year and outstanding revival respectively (Burt p. 695). Other notable awards include the best play award by Tony and Pulitzer Prize for the best drama in 1992. Yale Repertory Theatre performed the first aspect of the play in New Haven. The Broadway premiere of the play came later in the fourth month of 1992 (Burt p. 693). This was acted at Walter Kerr in the context of the New York City. The playwright sets the plot of the play in the Hill District enhancing the promotion of the subject of the play. This is because of the neighborhood consisting of African-Americans in Pittsburgh, in the state of Pennsylvania. The play is set in the in the context of 1969. It is a drama focus on the exploration of the social manifestations in relation to race. Some of works by the playwright include Fences, Radio Golf, and Gem of the Ocean (Burt p. 694).
Section 1: Structure/Thought
This play is still relevant to the current generation in relation to the subject matter. This is because of the aspects of the social and psychological manifestations in the context of the United States focusing on the concept of race and ethnicity. It might not have considerable influence like the one it did when it premiered, but it has not lost the focus or scope thus relevant to the current generation like in the previous scenarios. The current generation can draw from the comic aspect of the drama in enhancing the relationship between the two entities or races in the context of the United States of America. The setting of the drama or play focuses on the African-American and challenges in relation to quality existence. These individuals are still much active towards the realization of the American dream. This makes it critical for the evaluation and application of the drama to influence the lives of the individuals in the current society. The audience would react positively towards the production of this work because of the steps in curbing the political influence or civil rights in the United States.
The play adopts and implements the concepts of the chronological plot structure in the expression of the themes and the focus of the story. This is essential for the playwright to interact with the audiences effectively and efficiently. This is evident in the presentation of the sections of the play in the form of Act I and II will relevant scene depicting different scenario in relation to the subject matter. The play takes place when there is a fantastic deal of change in relation to the political conditions and ideologies. It represents the aspects of the civil rights with reference to fight for rights by the African-Americans. This indicates that the play takes place when the nation tries to handle the concept of slavery in the United States. The play takes place in Hill District, the African-American neighborhood in Pittsburgh, in the state of Pennsylvania. This location is essential in handling of the expression of the subject matter by the playwright. Play actions of the drama takes place within the context of a coffee house in the 1960s. This is vital in the provision of the dominant political and economic setting for the realization of the goals and objectives of the drama.
Some of the production demands in relation to the production of this script include technical expertise, communication systems, equipment, and financial resources for the realization of effective script. The script does not require multiple settings thus not so demanding in the course of production. Some other needs for the production of the script include basic needs such as acting facility, costumes for the casting purposes, and accommodation for production case that proceeds late into the nights. The playwright and producer also must proofread the script in order to understand its components before presentation to the audiences. In the production of the script, there are two components of lighting: green and red. The green lighting component in production offers the right to proceed with the casting process while red provides the opportunity to cut or pause, or end the casting process. Sound should figure in the production process. This is through incorporation of the concept of tone and scenario to illustrate the mode of play.
Section 2: Creative
Character: Memphis Lee
In the context of the play two trains running, I would love to act the role of Memphis Lee. Memphis undergoes serious problems in relation to the role he occupies within the drama. He is a hardworking individual whose restaurant offers the opportunity for the playwright to set the play. He continues to struggle in order to make a name for himself following the interaction and encounter with the whites in his previous farm in Mississippi. I choose this character because of the eventful encounter in the development of the plot thus challenging role to overcome within the play. This character is also intelligent and hardworking thus proving to be a fighter in unsuccessful battle. This occurs despite his problems ranging from marriage issues to economic problems in relation to the wrecking aspect on the restaurant. He continues to facilitate an operation through hard work with the aim of reclaiming the lost land to the whites (Burt p. 702).
Memphis objective in the play is to achieve freedom through hard work and dedication. This is evident through critical analysis of his encounters and involvement in the concept of the restaurant with the aim of reclaiming the piece of land. This is a reflection of symbolic style applicable in the drama by the playwright. This is because land in this case reflects the concept of slavery. Recapturing or reclamation of the land indicates achievement of the freedom to humanity. In this context, the achievement of this freedom is a reflection of empowerment to the African-Americans. This indicates that the main objective of Memphis in the play is to fight towards the achievement of this freedom from the aspect of slavery symbolized by land.
In the achievement of this objective, Memphis encounters several obstacles or challenges within the play. One of the main challenges is the perspective or view of the oldest person in the play. This relates to the advice from Ester, who reasons towards the maintenance of the status quo. This also limits the achievement of financial resources as the blacks in the script are advised to throw money in the river. Memphis also faces obstacles when handling his personal issues and economic activities. The marriage proves to be a wreck thus limiting the achievement of his goals and objectives within the play. Financial recession is also an influence in the achievement of the goals and objectives. The restaurant proves to be ineffective in the achievement of economic or financial stability thus another hindrance in the realization of the goals and objectives of Memphis within the context of the play.
There is a clear development of dialogue in Act I, Scene I involving the character of choice, Memphis and others such as West and Risa. During the encounter, West focuses on the interaction with unidentified audience on the phone on the context of the bets in relation to the illegal lottery. In this interaction, Memphis informs West to get off the phone while Risa focuses on criticizing the betting or numbers game (Elam p. 64). Memphis goes ahead to inform the two parties why his wife left thus demonstration of wrecked marriage. During the explanation of the marriage issues, Holloway makes his way into the restaurant passing the news on the lining of individuals at the funeral home with the view of seeing Prophet Samuel.
Holloway claims that people were charging to see him except for the intervention of West in the encounter. This enables the men in this interaction to conclude that West must be a rich man because of his ability to corpses before they are buried. Memphis raises the issue of West wanting his land and the aspect of tearing his restaurant by the city authority. In this explanation, Memphis indicates to the other characters that he would not accept any value below 25,000 dollars. The three fellows continue to discuss on how West manages to take much money for other individuals. In this scene, it is essential to note the role played by Memphis in highlighting the aspect of the racist system abusing him in relation to the achievement of the goals and objectives.
Memphis is also a close friend to the philosopher, Holloway, who has the ability and capacity to nurse coffee for hours. The scene also focuses on the illustration of the other mental state of the society through the depiction of Hambone. Hambone is obsessed with ham following the promise he had received for the completion of an assignment. This interaction offers the preview or the stage to the development of the play thus an opportunity for the viewers to relate to the themes of inequality, injustice, death, wealth, and slavery/racism.
In the animal kingdom, Memphis would be the tiger. This is because of the ability to work hard and implement dedication towards the achievement of the goals and objectives. This is essential for the realization of the freedom under the influence of the oppressive racism system affecting the United States in the time of the play. Despite several obstacles and challenges in the achievement of the goals and objectives, Memphis implements the aspects of dedication and commitment in the execution of his activities, functions, and obligations with the hope of one-day salvaging freedom. This is an expression of the dedication and commitment of the tiger in handling the issues in the jungle. In the photo, Wolf, West, Holloway, and Sterling enjoy interaction in the restaurant.
This image illustrates the character of Memphis in relation to the roles and obligations in the play. He is focused on the achievement of one common goal, which is freedom. Psychologically, emotionally, and intellectually, Memphis is a strong character based on the interaction and levels of activities he aims and puts sufficient effort in achieving in the context of the play. This is relevant to the realization of the goals of civil rights focusing on the political mood. The greatest challenge in playing this role is incorporation of the mood, tone, and facial expressions following various situations surrounding Memphis. In order to understand this character, it is vital to execute quality research on the aspect of the expressions, tone, and mood of the play thus enhancing the opportunity to manage the obstacles in acting the role.
Conclusion
Two trains running is one of the best comic films in the previous and modern societies because of its relevancy in the achievement of freedom to the Africa-Americans. The play focuses on the demonstration of the topic of slavery and racism in the United States before the civil rights era. The play illustrates the social and psychological manifestation of the concepts of racism, slavery, and ethnicity thus facing the blacks in the United States. In the aspect of creativity, Wilson achieves a lot in representation of the characters. The character of choice in this play is Memphis. His intelligent, dedication, and commitment nature enables him to fight for the realization of the goals and objectives in the form of freedom. This is evident in the process of executing every activity with the aim of recapturing his land taken by the racists.
Works Cited
Burt, Daniel S. The Chronology of American Literature: America’s Literary Achievements from the Colonial Era to Modern Times. Boston [u.a.: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Print.
Elam, Harry J. The Past As Present in the Drama of August Wilson. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2006. Internet resource.
