August Wilson's Gem Of The Ocean!

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 12:02am

Finally, a brilliant play comes to the great white way.
I went to see Gem Of The Ocean and it was a very well done show.
Phylicia Rashad was breathtaking as Aunt Ester as was Lisagay Hamilton as Black Mary.
If you want to see a riveting play go see this Gem.
I was deeply moved.
Oh and John Earl Jelks is a vision to look at. Stunning.
Updated On: 12/9/04 at 12:02 AM

[mbjts]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 4:36am

I wish I could see this!

I have enjoyed each and every one of August Wilson's plays, and this one sounds so connected to my favorite ones I have seen.

Hope it does well, and I'm thankful it made it's way to Broadway.

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 12:30pm

I have seen all of his plays and this one is my favorite.
It is brilliant. If you can make it please go.
Intelligent plays need a place on Broadway. Updated On: 12/9/04 at 12:30 PM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 5:28pm

I'm very excited by the glowing reviews this play has received. I'm hoping to see it when I'm in the city in February -- do you think the play will still be on then?

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 6:57pm

I'm hoping that this is still on Broadway this coming spring. That's probably the earliest I'll be able to get back to New York. Of all August Wilson's plays about African-American life in the 20th century, this is the one that intrigued me most, primarily because I'm a turn-of-the-century buff...

Unfortunately, I have bad memories of Jitney based on the way this jerk of a professor approached it in a class I had my second year of college.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 7:03pm

Too bad about your exprience with Jitney. The off-Broadway production that was here a few seasons back was absolutely outstanding and showed the play off to excellent advantage.

We'll just have to see how well Gem fares in January and February which are traditionally very slow months for NYC theatre, especially for nonmusical plays. This is most assuredly one of Wilson's finest efforts and the cast and production are first rate in every sense.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 7:23pm

I actually like most of Jitney, although the resolution is a little too neat. But it'll be a while before I can experience the play again without thinking of my painful, painful experience with the professor who assigned it. :-P

Is there any incorporation of ragtime music into the production currently at the Walter Kerr?

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 7:26pm

Another great play to see is the Rivals at Lincoln Center.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 7:35pm

You're right that Jitney is probably the closest thing Wilson has written to what would be termed a "well-made" play, but what was most memorable about that New York production was that more than anything the play is a great vehicle for a gifted ensemble of actors (the cast received an Obie for best ensemble).

I don't recall much use of ragtime in this production of Gem, but nonetheless the show ably captures the "feel" of turn of the century America, much like the brilliant production of "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" (set in 1912 and IMO Wilson's greatest play) that played on Broadway more than a decade ago.