Gem of the Ocean to Close February 6

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

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

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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

"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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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?

Why?
Because tourists don't want to see plays. They want to see musicals.

Updated On: 1/25/05 at 04:34 PM

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

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

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.