The performance was smeared with dramatic overtones, while hints of sensitivity spilled out at just the right moments.

The University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Theatre Department kicked off their 2007-2008 season with “Seven Guitars” this past Tuesday evening. The raw script, written by August Wilson, is a portrayal of seven African-Americans living together in the harsh times of Pittsburgh in 1948.

Director Bill Wilson did a wonderful job of helping the audience understand that “Seven Guitars” is as humorous as it is heartbreaking. Each character in the play holds a key to the story’s success, and this rang out true in UWM’s production.

All four male lead actors were strong in their craft, especially when it came to their motives and emotions. This was especially true for Travis Knight, who played Floyd ‘Schoolboy’ Barton. His character is a slick and cunning musician who tries to make it big with his music, at the cost of the other six “guitars.”

Knight’s performance took over his entire body, and he had very detailed vocal articulation. Also, it was a delight to hear Knight’s powerful voice in song during the show.

This was evident in the scene where ‘Schoolboy’ speaks of his dead mother.

It was these added elements of music and dance that added flavor and life to this production. The honky-tonk blues tunes that sang out from the old-time radio on stage helped redefine the show’s overall feel during set changes. It was also fun to watch different characters take part in care-free, sensual dancing to these bluesy tunes.

Various UWM theatre majors helped construct a wonderful set for this production. A tall brick house anchored the set, with a long flight of wooden stairs reaching to the top floor. Fallen leaves, chicken feathers, dusty boxes and a live garden also graced the stage.

The climatic end to act one was performed well by the talented David R Weaver. In this scene, his character, Hedley, cuts off the head of a rooster that doesn’t know how to stay quiet. The performance was smeared with dramatic overtones, while hints of sensitivity spilled out at just the right moments.

Despite all of this, it was Stephanie Roland as Louise who stole the show with her dynamic comedic timing. The audience could not contain themselves through most of Roland’s witty, smart-ass comments. Their laughter erupted throughout the theatre at these moments.

Though “Seven Guitars” seemed long and drawn out at parts, the story was told well by UWM’s cast. The shows themes of poverty, death and slavery were clear to the audience and gave them something to think about even after they left the theater.

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