Theater Review: August Wilson’s Radio Golf August Wilson was a native of Pittsburgh’s Hill District who dedicated his career to capturing his neighborhood and the African-American experience. The nine plays in his Pittsburgh cycle were written over the course of two decades; their settings span 1904 to 1997. (A tenth Wilson play, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, not set in Pittsburgh, rounds out what’s also known as Wilson’s Century Cycle.) Radio Golf closes out the Pittsburgh cycle. It premiered six months before Wilson’s 2005 death, at age 60. It’s a powerful work, addressing the themes of integrity, assimilation and ambition. Harmond Wilks, a local developer, is running to be Pittsburgh’s first black mayor while also preparing for the groundbreaking of an ambitious project to replace a run-down part of the Hill District with a set of sleek new buildings—including a Starbucks and a Barnes & Noble. In the riveting new production at A Noise Within, Christian Telesmar plays Wilks. Earlier this year, the actor showed his range at Rogue Machine; here he imbues his character with strength and authority, as well as a quick wit and a principled core that’s gotten a little lost in his insider trappings. DeJuan Christopher plays Wilks’ business partner and golfing buddy Roosevelt Hicks, balancing the line between giddy almost-mogul and tightly coiled defender of his hard-fought place in society. Wilks’ wife Mame (Sydney A. Mason) has already settled into her role as behind-the-scenes guide. Her stylish outfits and elegant ways perfectly accessorize her determination to get her husband elected, with his real estate project the foundation of his power broker cred. She’s pragmatic and focused on moving forward, not looking back. Read @lauraatthebuzz entire review on the Larchmont Buzz 🐝 - link in bio. All photos by Craig Schwartz Christian Telesmar and DeJuan Christopher Christian Telstar Sydney A. Mason Matt Orduña and Alex Morris Performances at A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena, through Nov. 13