The Gem of the Ocean
A. and I saw The Gem of the Ocean last night at the Huntington Theater. Phylicia Rashad is starring in the play’s last stop before Broadway.
For the seventh time, Huntington audiences will explore the soaring language and emotional power of two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner August Wilson with a new play before it heads to Broadway. In Gem of the Ocean master storyteller August Wilson brings us the first installment of his decade-by-decade chronicle of the African-American experience. Set in 1904 when slavery is still a living memory, Citizen Barlow arrives at the home of Aunt Ester in search of spiritual redemption. At 285 years of age, Aunt Ester is not too old to heal, and she guides him on a soaring, lyrical journey to the City of Bones.
It’s among the best of the shows I’ve seen at the Huntington, though incredibly long — going to a three-hour show on a school-night is not the smartest thing I’ve ever done.
