Review: Gem of the Ocean

Playwright August Wilson took on the daunting and creative idea of writing 10 plays that explore African-American experiences through 10 different decades in the 20th century. Each play takes on some of the issues and challenges faced in each era, and in particular geographical areas, and dramatizes them through personal stories.

Celebration Arts has staged most of the plays in this 10-story theatrical library, and now is tackling Gem of the Ocean, set in 1904 Pittsburgh, when slavery is still fresh in both the experiences and memories of its characters.

Aunt Ester (a radiant Gloria Jones), an ex-slave with healing powers, welcomes various characters into her home, including ex-slave Solly Two Kings (Larry Lee Roberson); young Citizen Barlow (Roderick Hickman) who is fleeing an oppressive South and his own guilt; housekeeper Black Mary (Dominique Dates) and caregiver Eli (Preston Collier). Other characters include the local sheriff Caesar (Andre Ramey) who turns on his own people, and local peddler Rutherford (Jeff Bagley) who navigates the back roads and personal secrets of the land.

Its understandable why Artistic Director James Wheatley waited on Gem of the Ocean—the play presents many challenges along the way with its word-weighty script that often gets bogged down with lengthy pontificating monologues. The play could use some editing, and the production some pace-tightening, but there is a fascinating story that unfolds and some beautiful portrayals by the cast, especially Jones, Hickman, Roberson and Ramey.