Opening Night Crowd Sings the Praises of Wilson’s ‘Piano Lesson’

The ‘80s were one long winning streak for playwright August Wilson. Acknowledged to be the American theater’s great find of the decade, he grabbed a Pulitzer, a Tony and--praise be to Hollywood--a check for $1 million from Paramount for his “Fences.” (Before “Harlem Nights” broke Eddie Murphy’s winning streak in late 1989, whatever Eddie Murphy wanted, so did Paramount, and Murphy wanted “Fences.”)

Wilson took his winning streak into the ‘90s Thursday night with the opening of “The Piano Lesson” at the Doolittle Theatre, the last stop for this Yale Repertory production before it heads for Broadway.

“August will be just as big in the ‘90s,” said the play’s producing director, Gordon Davidson. “He’s just a born storyteller.”

Out to hear Wilson’s latest tale was a glittery crowd that included Billy Dee Williams and James Earl Jones (both performed in “Fences” on Broadway), Denzel Washington, Brenda Vaccaro, Corbin Bernsen and wife Amanda Pays, Spike Lee and Estelle Getty.

“It made me feel good,” Jones said after the performance. “After every good play you should walk out and wish those people were in your life.”

Wilson just wishes he can keep actors like Jones in his plays.