If you ask me…
– Tom Holehan
Long Wharf Theatre’s Revival is a “Gem”
Playwright August Wilson’s breathless monologues in his many plays have often been referred to as “arias”. This is a perfect description as he has created words for actors that soar, that are journeys of the soul, meaningful and often profound. Get great actors and a strong director and the plays of August Wilson will continue to remain timeless. I thought of this watching Long Wharf Theatre’s current revival of Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean”.
August Wilson’s celebrated “American Century Cycle”, an epic 10-play series that started in 1982 with “Jitney” and concluded in 2005 with “Radio Golf, offered works that explored the African American experience in America, one play for each decade of the 20 th century. Other works included “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, “Fences” and “The Piano Lesson”. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing many of these masterworks but “Gem of the Ocean” is rarely produced so I was thrilled when it was announced as part of Long Wharf’s new season.
Chronologically, “Gem of the Ocean” is the first installment of the critically acclaimed series. It is set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 1904 where the undaunted Aunt Ester (Denise Burse, wonderful) holds court as the community’s spiritual leader (she claims an age well past 200). Ester resides in the home with her housekeeper Black Mary (Grace Porter) and Solly Two Kings (Terrence Riggins). Enter Citizen Barlow (Matthew Elam) from Alabama and seeking redemption from Ester for past sins. Under her tutelage Citizen begins a lyrical journey of spiritual awakening to what Ester calls the “City of Bones”. Wilson has always been comfortable in exploring the supernatural elements found in much of African-American culture.
Wilson’s drama explores many of the great writer’s familiar themes including racial injustice, cultural history, love, redemption and identity. Director Cheyenne Barboza has done a masterful job presenting the various characters and subplots leading to that soaring climax of Citizen’s spiritual journey. Her cast could not be better and include Thomas Silkot, Bjorn DuPaty and Mike Boland. All the actors shine individually and together here. Burse embodies Aunt Ester with a strength of mystical conviction that never wavers. DuPaty, as a black man now feeling his power as both a community policeman and business owner, delivers a titanic monologue about how he views the law and it is completely mesmerizing. In just a few key scenes Boland registers effectively playing the drama’s sole white character. All the acting here demonstrates true ensemble work and you won’t find a weak link in this exemplary company of actors.
Returning to New Haven’s Canal Dock Boathouse, which proved to be an ideal location for their production of “A View from the Bridge” last season, designer Omid Akbari creates an ingenious setting for the play which turns into something perfectly theatrical for the climatic “City of Bones” sequence. Toni-Leslie James’ costuming offers nice period touches notably evident in Aunt Ester’s regal frocks. It’s a shame that Joseph X. Fonseca’s otherwise fine lighting design gets a little washed out at matinee performances due to the numerous windows at the Boathouse. A minor complaint because, all told, this is a superior production on every single level.
“Gem of the Ocean” continues at Long Wharf Theatre, Canal Dock Boathouse, 475 Long Wharf Drive in New Haven, Connecticut through March 15. For further information call the box office at: 203.693.1486 or visit: www.longwharf.org.
Tom Holehan is one of the founders of the Connecticut Critics Circle, a frequent contributor to WPKN Radio’s “State of the Arts” program and the Stratford Crier and former Artistic Director of Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company. He welcomes comments at: tholehan@yahoo.com. His reviews and other theatre information can be found on the Connecticut Critics Circle website: www.ctcritics.org.
