Learning Experience – a review of “How I Learned What I Learned”

By Michael Buzzelli

Pittsburgh was granted a rare Martin Luther King, Jr. Day treat,  Wali Jamal reprised his role as August Wilson  in August Wilson’s autobiographical play, “How I Learned What I Learned.”

The play was  originally written and performed by August Wilson himself in 2003. It is the autobiographical story of the young black artist’s journey through the hardships of growing up in the Hill District in the 1960s.  Wilson describes the denizens of the Hill with wit and reverence. He takes a long look back at his childhood and offers up poignant memories.

Jamal is the only actor in the world who has been in all of the ten of August Wilson’s Century-Cycle plays. He was also named Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Performer of the Year in 2018. He is a treasured performer here.

Note: His King Hedley in “Seven Guitars” was menacing.

Jamal managed to capture the the essence of the poet/playwright and make the “character” uniquely his own.  Jamal, alongside director Jason Kmetic, adds a Yinzer flair to Wilson’s characters, providing a little extra hometown humor.

Jamal is a grand storyteller.  His performance was distinctive and extremely entertaining.

Wali Jamal as August Wilson taking a final bow in “How I Learned What I Learned.”

The play itself, however, is very anecdotal and a little long, but it is filled with the poetry of language that is awe-inspiring.  They are literally and figuratively pieces of August Wilson’s heart laid bare told grandly by Jamal.

Hearing Jamal as Wilson describe micro and macro aggressions of racism was heartbreaking, especially since the play took place on the same day an Executive Order was signed to revoke the federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion guidelines (among a series of other heinous Executive Orders).

Jamal, through the soul of August Wilson, reminds us that racism and hatred must be fought continuously at all times.

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“How I Learned What I Learned” was a production of Prime Stage Theatre’s Monday Specials. For more information about Prime Stage, click here. 

 

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