In his epic masterpiece King Hedley II, the penultimate play in his Century Cycle, August Wilson captures man, society, and God in a bottle, and director Ron OJ Parson uncorks its glory and unleashes its fury on the Court Theatre audience like a torrential downpour.
Director Parson deftly navigates the relentless waves of grief that buffet Hedley’s kingdom by offering frequent comedic beats, leaving the audience unmoored and vulnerable for the next sucker punch. One of the standout emotional moments is a showstopper monologue delivered by Kierra Bunch, who plays Hedley’s girlfriend Tonya, where she reckons with the nature of foresight, love, mercy, and a subject that still remains taboo.
Through 10/13: Wed-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat-Sun 2 and 7:30 PM, 773-753-4472, courttheatre.org, $50-$84.
