|  The
Walter Kerr Theater in Manhattan is currently presenting
August Wilson’s play, Gem of the Ocean. The play stars
Phylicia Rashad in the leading role of Aunt Ester with Ruben
Santiago, Lisa Gay Hamilton (who you may recognize from
The Practice), Anthony Chisholm, Eugene Lee, Raynor Scheine,
and John Earl Jelks.
Running since November, Gem of the Ocean has a sharp story
line, which easily catches the audience's attention. A young
man name Citizen (John Earl Jelks) comes to the home of
Aunt Ester (Phylicia Rashad) to have his soul cleansed after
committing a horrible act that eats away at his conscience.
The play is packed with humor all the characters, even the
most serious seem to bring a comedic edge to the play. And
when you are not laughing the powerful lines; the thought
provoking and brain tingling lines bring an incredible feeling
deep down inside to keep the play going strong.
The best performance comes from Ruben Santiago-Hudson for
his role as Caesar His antagonistic role as the back-stabbing
negro with a white mentality kept me totally convinced throughout
the play. Rashad, although not exactly convincing as an
old lady fairs well getting across the difficult manner,
tender affection, and stubbornness often associated with
old folks.
Gem of the Ocean is definitely a play worth seeing and then
seeing again with someone else. The one complaint is that
I expected a deeper meaning and was expecting it to hit
me at any time, but even after the play I could not grasp
one. There was a feeling like I went to the bathroom midway
through the play and missed something. Besides that it was
great.
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