Review: GEM OF THE OCEAN

GEM OF THE OCEAN, produced by Evening Star Productions was at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Duke Energy Theater, August 28-September 5, 2015.

I was taken with GEM OF THE OCEAN. It was an intimate production; a celebration of hearts coming together to tell this story. Why did Tony Mullins direct this story now? 'Because this story has deep significance for all of us. Financial backing for this production was compromised, as was seen with the sparse sets and simple costumes, but that didn't deter Mullins, or make this production any less powerful in its message or our journey.

Written by August Wilson, GEM OF THE OCEAN is chronologically the first of his ten works dramatizing African American life in the twentieth century. Part history, part bible, part fable, GEM OF THE OCEAN, takes place in 1904 in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It frames what life was like for African Americans 39 years after the end of the Civil War. The war freed a people, but opportunity was little.

The entire play takes place in one location, the home of "Aunt" Ester Tyler. Aunt Ester is the spiritual advisor for the Hill District community, portrayed with strength and humor by Shar Marlin. I couldn't stop noticing Marlin's expressive hands holding "pure" or holding her cane, as she brought a realistic physicality to Aunt Ester's character. Aunt Ester was a former slave, who claims to be 285 years-old. She lives in a house handed down by Miss Tyler, a woman who Ester was sent to live with when she was nine-years-old.

Eli is Ester's gatekeeper, portrayed with realism by Kevin Aoussou. He's getting ready to retire when a young stranger, Citizen Barlow, portrayed with innocence and brooding by Shawn Jones, bangs on the door wrought with emotion. He needs to see Aunt Ester. He needs his soul cleansed. There is a scuttle between the two when Eli tells him to come back Tuesday (this action would have been better served using a fight director). Aunt Ester appears and calms his nerves as she reiterates, "Didn't he say Tuesday baby? Go on, I'll see you on Tuesday."

We are invited into a dance of relationships as visitors keep appearing at 1839 Wylie Avenue. Eli describes it as a "peaceful house." Rutherford Selig is a traveling peddler, portrayed truthfully by Al' Jaleel McGhee. Selig is ambitious, but kind, as he offers to throw in a dust pan with the skillet when "Black" Mary, Aunt Ester's protégé and housekeeper, portrayed by Tiffany Bryant-Jackson, feels she paid too much for a coffee pot. Bryant-Jackson understands Black Mary's judgmental martyrdom and that her inner strength is her virtue.

Solly "Two Kings," is a former slave and a conductor of the underground railroad, portrayed with honesty and an open, generous spirit by Jerry Parker II. He says, "What good is freedom if you can't do nothing with it?" He commands the stage with his affable, flirting spirit. His is a character we have all known. He is true to himself and lives by his strong moral code.

The antagonist is Black Mary's brother, Caesar Wilkes, portrayed with strength by Tony Mullins. He is an entrepreneurial local constable, who has forgotten his roots and has modeled himself in the image of white society at its worst against his own people.

As Aunt Ester takes Citizen on a metaphoric journey to the Island of Bones (the bones of slaves who perished) on a slave ship, "Gem of the Ocean," Citizen writhes with guilt to atone for being responsible for another man's death. It is through his own forgiveness that his soul is cleansed. He matures in front of our eyes, as he can see beyond himself to think of others and take over as the one who can lead those out of darkness to freedom.

At times, the actors raced through monologues instead of coming to thoughts naturally and some actions were intimated and not fully realized, but Mullins captured the sentiment of Wilson's message beautifully. Messages we are still dealing with today. I enjoyed every minute of GEM OF THE OCEAN. I didn't notice that this play was longer than most because I was watching real relationships onstage. I look forward to seeing future productions from Tony Mullins and Evening Star Productions. A "shout out" goes to Tina Kelly for her work as stage manager.

Evening Star Productions is accepting donations for their upcoming productions at http://www.gofundme.com/5mzuv8

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