"Joe Turner's Come and Gone," directed by Lou Bellamy at Portland Playhouse, is set in a 1911 Pittsburgh boarding house during the Great Migration. The story follows Herald Loomis, who is recently freed from a seven-year term in a chain gang, as he searches for his estranged wife. The narrative reflects the broader quest for identity among African Americans in the aftermath of slavery. As Loomis interacts with other residents, he starts to understand that his search is not just for his wife, but also for a place and identity in a rapidly changing society.
"Set in a 1911 Pittsburgh boarding house, the play explores the African American quest for identity 60 years post-Emancipation amidst the Great Migration."
"Herald Loomis's journey illustrates the struggle for cultural grounding as he seeks his estranged wife and his place in a new world."
Collection
[
|
...
]