Set in North St. Louis in the summer of 1958, 'Pennies for the Boatman' offers a dual profile of Helen, a stolid African-American seamstress, and Camilla, the tempestuous prodigal sister who roars back into town like a force of nature. The storm stirred up by Camilla's unexpected arrival unearths long buried family secrets, leaving behind both a trail of calamities and a glimmer of unforeseen hope. This production thoughtfully explores family dynamics, race relations, and class differences in an accessible melodrama.—Anonymous