• --

Credits

Opening Date: Nov 23, 2004; Lead Performance: Phylicia Rashad; Writer: August Wilson
B

August Wilson, in this ninth entry in his 10-play decade-by-decade cycle, once again cultivates a vividly thriving patch of ideas and lively life-forms on stage with Gem of the Ocean. It's 1904, and ancient, august, ornery Ester Tyler (Phylicia Rashad) — child of slavery, mother to all, priestess of remembrance — opens her ''peaceful house'' to a cross section of black Pittsburgh, as trouble brews at the local mill. In true Wilson fashion, this isn't so much a play as a teeming character terrarium. But Anthony Chisholm's Solly Two Kings, an incorrigibly free-spirited ex-slave, is an especially rich creation, a beanpole Falstaff, only with, y'know, pride and principles.


Sign up for EW.com's The 25 newsletter!

Stay in the know and get EW.com's top 5 stories, 5 days a week (sent weekday afternoons).
  • Print
  • Del.icio.us
  • Google
  • StumbleUpon
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • More
 

Add Your Comments

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. You must have javascript enabled to submit a comment.
--
Change/Edit your grade
characters remaining

Copyright © 2008 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.