Gem of the Ocean to Close February 6 — Page 2

I've heard that "Light" has made some significant changes since the Chicago tryout last year. If that is true, it should be reconsidered, in my opinion. But the Pulitzer rules are very specific.

Midtown-

Couldn't agree more. Love your icon. "Souvenir" was so great!

The pedophilia aspect in the plot of Doubt is really ancillary to what the play is really about. So, the "Movie Of the Week" claim being leveled against it earlier in this thread really doesn't ring true.

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Oh, perhaps the two year-plus runs for Proof and Tale of the Allergist's Wife?

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So, are you saying that they will only see "white" plays?

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The fact is that at least two or three of the tv movies I've seen on this subject dealt primarily with the question of faith and trust and whether or not to believe the allegations against a beloved priest at the center of the drama, while soft-pedaling (and not showing) the actual questionable interactions with the victimized boys. Telling this story from the point of view of the clerics rather than the victims (and exploring the inner turmoil and crisis of faith the accusations cause amongst the members of the clergy) has been done before. Sorry, but when I saw Doubt, I had a strong sense of deja vu throughout and unmistakable feeling that I had seen this all before.

Simply having the opportunity to watch Cherry Jones and Brian O'Byrne act together (and not anything in the writing) was the only thing I found enjoyable about the production. Those two can create miracles and could make a recitation of the phone book exciting. If this production had been mounted with lesser actors in a smaller less prestigious theatre than MTC, nobody would be touting it for the Pulitzer Prize or anthing else.

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Dang, I was going to watch this when I visit the city next month.

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How horrible- I was really hoping this play would last, but the signs when I saw it weren't positive. It was during the busy Christmas-New Year's week, and the family next to me only came because Gem was the last show left at the TKTS booth. They were puzzled that Mamma Mia! was sold out. But how could it compare with Dracula, their favorite show?

*sigh*

Anyway, I really recommend this play to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. The cast is absolutely phenomenal from top to bottom- everybody has their bravura moments. Rashad is wonderful, completely believable as a 200+ year-old woman. Lisa Gay Hamilton- the standout, in my opinion, among the supporting cast members- has some unforgettable interactions with Rashad and John Earl Jelks. Ruben Santiago-Hudson's monologue on law and order was masterful, and Anthony Chisolm and Eugene Lee's spoken duet about their Civil War experiences was just as good. And Jelks' performance grew in parallel with the consciousness of his character, a very impressive feat.

When I saw the play, the house was full and audience reaction was warm and appreciative. I only wish that I'd been sitting closer than the top balcony, and that the full houses had lasted past the prime of tourist season. Writing this good deserves more than a run of a few months.

Updated On: 1/25/05 at 10:21 PM

Saw Gem of the Ocean last night. LOVED it. SO touching. The audience was on their feet before curtain call even began. I am truly tempted to call it a masterpiece. WONDERFUL.

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