The Piano Lesson by August Wilson
In his review of The Piano Lesson by August Wilson, John Simon contends that it has 3 separate plays in it. Specifically, John argues that the first play could be "a drama about the conflict between the brother who wants to sell the past for the future," the second part he thinks "it is a play of the supernatural, in which Berniece and Boy Willie, each in his own way, must battle Sutter's ghost," and the third play "is a Broadway entertainment with situation comedy, musical interludes (singing, piano playing), halfhearted melodrama (Berniece's gun, promptly dropped), mostly detracting from the real drama."
I disagree. In my view, it is only one play that reveals different parts to it. For instance, Boy Willy does want to sell the piano. However, it is only one idea that adds to the entire play. I don't think it could be it's own play. Some readers might disagree on the grounds that it could be it's own play. Yet, I would argue that if he wanted it to be it's own play, he would have wrote it that way. Overall, then, I believe that it is one play with 3 big ideas in it, and not 3 separate plays.
I disagree. In my view, it is only one play that reveals different parts to it. For instance, Boy Willy does want to sell the piano. However, it is only one idea that adds to the entire play. I don't think it could be it's own play. Some readers might disagree on the grounds that it could be it's own play. Yet, I would argue that if he wanted it to be it's own play, he would have wrote it that way. Overall, then, I believe that it is one play with 3 big ideas in it, and not 3 separate plays.
