Friday April 20, 2007 SGN.org |
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Volume 35 Issue 16 |
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Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008
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Gem of the Ocean at Seattle Rep is a meaty and moving play |
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| Gem of the Ocean at Seattle Rep is a meaty and moving play | |
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by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid -
SGN A&E Writer Gem of the Ocean Directed by Phyllicia Rashad Starring Crystal Fox, William Hall, Jr., Khalil Kain, Stanley Wayne Mathis Todd Jefferson Moore, Michelle Shay, Allie Woods Seattle Repertory Theatre April 5th-May 6th What can one say about a play that, while it has some elements of tragedy, is also so exemplary in showing the wide array of colors of the human experience, that is as perfect as live theater gets? And, watching August Wilson's first play in the series of plays he wrote about Black life in the early and later twentieth century Northeast, I have to say that I was indeed speechless. It's more of an experience than a play, as one is drawn into the lives of these characters. The play, Gem Of The Ocean revolves around 'Aunt Esther (Michelle Shay), a compassionate, but strongly opinionated Black matriarch who ministers from her house, by offering life experience and wisdom to those who come to her. Such a person comes to her in the form of 'Citizen Barlow' (Khalil Khan), who has committed a crime for which he feels he needs 'his soul washed' by Aunt Esther. He is told to wait to see her, but cannot, and so he breaks into her house, only to have her accept him, seeing in him similarities between a deceased son and the troubled young man who has come to her for help. Weaving together biblical teachings and her own insights, Aunt Esther counsels the young man, as she also counsels the young woman she's taken in to do her laundry (Crystal Fox) and the man who serves as her secretary/bodyguard/friend, Eli (Allie Woods). Also part of this ready-made family are Solly Two Kings (William Hall, Jr.), and Rutherford Selig (Todd Jefferson Moore), two men of different races who have in common that they are both trying to survive amidst the turbulent times after slavery. The 'odd man out' is 'Ceasar' (Stanley Wayne Mathis), who believes that the freed slaves now working for the mill, and who have fattened his pockets, needing both his food and his rental properties to survive, are less than him. He believes they need constant watching, and, as sheriff of the town, he intends to make them know their place. In this, perhaps one of the Wilson's best, in my opinion, Gem Of The Ocean travels the path of showing the audience the intricate trap that befell too many African-Americans after slavery, and how many of them continued to suffer from the racist practices of their 'masters'. A meaty, and moving play, this is one not to miss and one to maybe see more than once, just because it's so rich and delicious and the experience bears repeating. For information, call 206-443-2222 or go online to www.seattlerep.org. |
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