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Wolf (Jefferson A. Russell), Risa (Malkia Stampley) and Sterling (Chiké Johnson) in Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s production of August Wilson’s "Two Trains Running."
Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner Photography

'Two Trains Running' is your barbershop banter moved into the local Black-owned diner

I am embarrassed to admit that this is my first time experiencing an August Wilson production. This play definitely lived up to the hype. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's production of "Two Trains Running" portrays…

I am embarrassed to admit that this is my first time experiencing an August Wilson production. This play definitely lived up to the hype. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s production of “Two Trains Running” portrays the dialogue of everyday people that meet daily at the neighborhood diner. Set in the 1960s, everyone in the Black-owned diner is dealing with matters from mental health to second chances at life after the penitentiary to running numbers by the mob to relying on Lady Luck to survive. Pretty much everyone is going through a transition in their life. It’s simply your barbershop banter moved into the local diner, and the women can finally hear the dirty jokes. Even the diner floor is checkered, just like the barbershop.

After watching the characters reveal who they were, I started to identify with them myself, or with people that I know in my life. Risa, played by Malika Stampley, is a young African American woman who dealt with body image issues growing up. She was matured fast, which led to men wanting her. She didn’t understand or like the attention, so she cut her legs. In her mind, cutting her legs and filling them with scars made them ugly, which made her undesirable to men. She didn’t need or want them in her life and believed this would keep them away.

Risa (Malkia Stampley) in Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s production of August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running.”
Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner Photography

Now, I have never harmed myself, but as a woman, at some point old or young, we all deal with beauty identity issues. In high school, I did not blossom like my friends, so I would wear padded garments under my shirts to look fuller. It took me until college to realize it didn’t matter what size I was, someone would enjoy me for me no matter what.

All of the characters in “Two Trains Running” fight for respect in some way — from one another, from the community or from The Man. They are all trying to survive with the cards they are dealt, and the decisions they make while playing their hand. Memphis, played by Raymond Anthony Thomas, is in the midst of seeing his business threatened by gentrification. He could sell his business to the city or another local businessman who isn’t so honest. A lot of areas in Cincinnati like OTR and Walnut Hills are facing similar situations. It makes you wonder if people are getting the money they deserve for their business, and if they are choosing to stay, if their businesses will last.

Memphis (Raymond Anthony Thomas) in Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s production of August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running.”
Photo credit: Mikki Schaffner Photography

During the play, there is a lot of talk about love and death. At the end of the performance, I sat trying to remember how many times I heard any mention about two trains. If my memory serves me correctly, it was only mentioned once. I thought that was weird and began asking other audience members how many times they had heard it, and their response was once as well. Slightly confused, I walked back to my car, tossing the title around my head. Searching for the meaning. By the time I reached my front door, I came up with something that may only make sense to me. I believe the title, “Two Trains Running,” is about love and death. One train is love, while the other is death. Both are happening — well, running — all around us. And no matter what we do, our train will come, love or death, when it’s our time.

Marissa Staples is a Cincinnati published author and writer for The Voice of Black Cincinnati. She developed her love of arts from her mother, Kandi. Being a native of Cincinnati, she loves to travel. If she is not traveling, you can find her reading, writing, volunteering or drinking wine. Wine always brings smiles, friends and creative dialogue.