Gem of the Ocean to Close February 6

[RadioTV2]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 12:43pm

Just got an email from NY Times Ticketwatch. Well, now we can finally see "Doubt" on Broadway!

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 1:00pm

That is a shame about Gem of the Ocean. It is marvelous.
A BRILLIANT PLAY.

[twogaab2]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 1:07pm

Too bad I really liked that play. Wonderful ensemble cast!!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 1:28pm

Sad news, but not unexpected. It's a great play and production and deserved a much better fate.

[Kris2]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 2:13pm

Darnit. I gotta find a way to see this before it closes. I think a road trip is in order.

[newsieboy23]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 2:18pm

I checked the search, unsuccessfully.... can someone tell me where the StRush tix are for the show? Taking the boyfriend for his bday... curious.
thanks in advance

[Justice]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 2:40pm

Saw the show on Jan 1st. Loved the cast. Hopefully LisaGay Hamilton will get a Tony nod.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 3:35pm

"Gem" is not my favorite show...Loved the performances, esp. Phylicia and LisaGay, but on August Wilson's extremely accomplished chain, this is the weakest link.

Yay, I'm so happy "Doubt" has a home, in the house that just happens to be my favorite Broadway theatre.

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 3:51pm

so sad! Folks I urge you to run and get tix to see this great play before it closes! I'm so glad I got to this brillant work when I did.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:06pm

Personally, I found Gem to be one of the three or four strongest plays in the entire August Wilson canon and in a class far superior to Doubt which I found to be rather perfunctory, predictable, pedestrian, and over-praised ...... but that's just me.

Gem deftly plays with form and structure and is laden with poetry, fascinating characters and rich spiritual imagery and manages to capture the essence of the uncertain, complicated lives African-Americans had to lead a hundred years ago in this country -- a subject matter rarely, if ever, seen before on a Broadway stage. It was a time when the echoes of slavery were still being keenly felt and true freedom and citizenship had yet to be achieved and Gem manages to viscerally embody that moment in time. It's been given a first-rate production with exemplary staging and design and the finest ensemle of actors on any stage at the moment. Yet, people seem happy to see it close so that "Doubt" can take the Kerr.

Doubt has nice performances, but the play itself reminded me of a movie of the week -- yet ANOTHER priest molestation story (to go along with the three others this season on and off-Broadway alone, not to mention the dozens of movies, telepics and mini-series on the subject in the last decade). There's nothing particularly special about the writing in the play, either in form, style or substance. It's a safe, unchallenging, cookie-cutter well-made play, which has unaccountably been hailed as the greatest play in memory. While it's worthwhile enough for me to be happy for its continued success, I'm utterly baffled by its reception.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:10pm

Well. To put it in layman's terms:
This blows.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:10pm

Margo, I actually agree with a lot of the stuff you said about "Gem". To me, August Wilson's weakest work is stronger than most people masterpieces.

There were times in "Doubt" where I could barely breath, esp. Brian O'Byrne's powerful oratories. I also think that this is Cherry's finest stage performance.

Brian has a great small role in Clint Eastwood's terrific, multi-Oscar nominated "Million Dollar Baby". he plays, guess what, a priest.

[jmnpublications]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:15pm

Margo,

I agree with you 100%. Memories and images of GEM still resonate for me, three months after seeing it in tryouts. What a truly unique and uplifting experience it is to watch such gifted artists interpret an equally gifted playwright's vision and words.

I have not seen DOUBT, but being from Boston, I can't imagine that the play is any more riveting than the real-life drama I saw unfold on the news for over a year. Enough, already.

Thanks, again, for your insight and eloquence.

lc

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:15pm

I'd certainly rate Gem above Seven Guitars, King Hedley II, Two Trains Running and Jitney and at least on a par with Ma Rainey and Fences. I think Joe Turner is his finest work and The Piano Lesson is not far behind that.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:15pm

I'm crushed. This beautiful play and cast deserve to be on Broadway much longer.

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:23pm

Margo,simply wonderful post.

Side note: Gem can't close. My other family members haven't seen this great play yet! Why do all the good plays close early?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:32pm

My list:

1. Ma Rainey
2. Joe Turner
3. Fences
4. 7 Guitars
5. The Piano Lesson
6. Two Trains Running
7. King Hedley II
8. Gem of the Ocean
9. Jitney

Can't wait for "Radio Golf"!

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:34pm

Why?
Because tourists don't want to see plays. They want to see musicals. Updated On: 1/25/05 at 04:34 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:37pm

Who mentioned tourists? Although, your observation is sadly true. I tried to take a friend and his wife from my hometown in New Jersey to see "I Am My Own Wife" earlier this year, but they only wanted to see musicals.

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:40pm

MEF-
Someone asked why Gem was closing. Tourists spend the most money on ticket sales.
Gem was my favorite August Wilson play.
I am very sad.
Hope Rashad gets a Tony for her role. She is an incredible actress. Updated On: 1/25/05 at 04:40 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:42pm

I didn't put two and two together. After I posted, I reread your post. Q: Why? A: Tourists. Even though I have stated that "Gem" is not my favorite show, I do agree with you 100% when it comes to tourists and the theatre, as my post reflects.

[pooryorick]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:44pm

I think Brian, Cherry and Adrian are incredible actors, the play is decent though really not the best of the year, and I agree about the showdown at the end as being thrilling (no better actors than Jones and O'Byrne) ... but the actress Heather whatshername who played Sister James was really awful. Or perhaps the character is meant to mug like a monkey and talk like a five year old child with a speech impediment? Updated On: 1/25/05 at 04:44 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 5:30pm

Heather is without a doubt (no pun intended) the weakest link in "Doubt". Wow, I must really like that expression. Now that they show will almost certainly be going to Broadway, the role should be recast.

I think that "Doubt" is the frontrunner for this year's Pulitzer Prize.

[pooryorick]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 5:52pm

I think weak link is an extremely nice way of saying that her performance is the most serious, gaping flaw of the entire production ... she undermines Brian and Cherry with an amateurish take on the role (and what's with that really weird voice?). But I doubt if they'll recast given that no reviewer had the cujones to point out how limited she is as an actress ... and how much more fascinating someone else, like Lili Taylor, would have been. But if anyone from MTC reads this -- consider other options! Someone worthy of the rest of the cast! As for the Pulitzer, I'd agree.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 6:00pm

Lili Taylor would be incredible in that role. Said it before, say it again: Can't wait for her as May in "Fool for Love".

It really doesn't have that much competition for the Pulitzer. I doubt (again with the unintentional pun!) they would give it to "Fat Pig" or "The God of Hell", and the only real musical that would be considered, "Light in the Piazza", was illegible last year, so that takes it out of the running.