Last year I saw my first of the cycle: "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom". It was produced at a smaller local theater group, and the performances were a little uneven, with the greatest disappointment being the actor who play Ma Rainey herself. I tried hard to not let that affect my consideration of the play itself, but it's hard to be that objective and I left feeling like I had missed something.
Round House Theatre's production of "Gem of the Ocean" answered that unformed question. I had missed seeing a stellar presentation of a master playwright's work! In this production I felt bowled over by the writing, the ideas captured and shared, sometimes wrestled with, the way great actors can inhabit a work of theatre and make it transcend the confines of the stage set before you. The sets was amazing, and the way it revealed it's hidden beauty in the scene where Citizen Barlow is taken to the City of Bones enveloped the moment in magic even as the characters were in the midst of journey into an enchanted, revelatory nether world. The actors were absolutely wonderful. For a play that is at its heart an exploration of manhood, no praise would be complete without marveling at the work of Stephanie Berry as Aunt Ester. Her wise and often non-nonsense embodiment of the character brought together adeptly the melding of the devoted Bible believer and the keeper of traditional knowledge. Among the remaining cast members, each seemed to be given their moment by Wilson, and each used the moment to shine. However, Kenyatta Rogers as Caesar Wilks took that glow to a nuclear level. Having seen him in other plays, I could totally appreciate the full range of nuances with which he animated the character. His performance was nothing short of brilliant.
The run ends tomorrow, unfortunately.
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