King Hedley II

King Hedley II takes place in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1985. It’s set in the backyard of a once flourishing neighborhood now falling apart due to urban decay. King Hedley II, recently released from a prison stint, returns to society with no formal education or job prospects. Hanging with his friend Mister in his backyard planting seeds that just don’t seem to take root, King dreams of opening a video rental store using money earned selling stolen refrigerators. Battling his desire to be somebody in the present while haunted by a past that won’t turn him loose, King’s dreams are doomed to a violent end in Wilson’s darkest and most symbolic play.