For many of us in Southern California, taxi cabs aren’t often seen or used and we’d have a hard time understanding the problem that August Wilson’s “Jitney” presents. This humorous production at the Pasadena Playhouse until 15 July 2012 originally opened at South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa and is a welcome educational flashback to a poignant past.

A jitney is a gypsy or illegal cab service that serves a people who live in places that ordinary taxis will not venture. Wilson’s 1979 play is set in the fall of 1977, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Wilson was born in that city, the fourth child out of six. “Jitney” was the first of Wilson’s 10-play Pittsburgh cycle which takes on a different decade of Pittsburgh in the 20th century. Written first, chronologically “Jitney” was the seventh in the series.Wilson revised the play several times and he was given a New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 2001 and the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2002.

There is little action on stage but the men meet, talk and argue at this gypsy taxi service. We learn about life in Pittsburgh because taxi drivers see and hear it all, but they see only the poorest of the city (Hill District). They drive people to places regular taxis won’t go and they answer a public phone, marking their departures and returns on a chalkboard. This isn’t a brightly cleaned station. Shaun Motley’s set has blue walls that are now dimmed by the dirt of long neglect.

For background, we have the company gossip, the confirmed old bachelor Turnbo (Ellis Williams). At the beginning of the play, he’s just returned from driving a passenger who was stealing a TV from his own grandmother. The youngest driver Youngblood (Larry Bates) drove by an old woman who is on the path to bag lady purgatory–she’s been evicted and is now in the streets, showing her worn ware to anyone who wants to see up her skirt and cursing God and “went on down the list.” Doub (James A. Watson, Jr.) explains “She was raising up her dress because that’s all anyone ever wanted from her since she was 12 years old.”

Family life in Pittsburgh isn’t good. And that’s not just because of the racism of the times. Fielding (David McNight), an old man who has slipped into alcoholism, once was a tailor in high demand by the popular black singers of the day. The boss of this makeshift company is the widowed Becker (Charlie Robinson).

There are two catalysts for change: Becker’s son was in the penitentiary for 20 years and today he’s being let out and Youngblood’s gal has heard he’s been out late with her sister.

As you can imagine, not all of these stories will turn out well. Under the direction of Ron OJ Parson, we get the color and flavor of life in the Pittsburgh Hill District. Despite the desperation brought on by racism and benign neglect, their lives aren’t all hopeless and demeaning. Parson and his cast bring out the musicality of Wilson’s language while Dana Rebecca Woods reminds us just how popular plaid was once (and it might make your eyes hurt).

“Jitney” continues at the Pasadena Playhouse until 15 July 2012. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena.  The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Single show ticket prices for JITNEY range from $20.00 – $60.00, with Premium Seating available for $100.00.  Rush tickets are available for $15.00 one hour prior to the performance time and are subject to availability.

Rush tickets must be purchased at The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. Tickets are available by calling the Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Monday from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates.  On performance dates the box office is open Tuesday- Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.  Group Sales (8 or more) are available by calling 626-921-1161. For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.