Gem of the Ocean

Infobox Play
name = Gem of the Ocean


image_size = 150px
caption =
writer = August Wilson
characters =
genre = Drama
series = "The Pittsburgh Cycle"
setting = 1904, the Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
subject = in spiritual turmoil, a new life is sought and a magical journey across history and time is undertaken
premiere = 2002
place = Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Waterford, Connecticut
orig_lang = English
ibdb_id = 386365
iobdb_id =

"Gem of the Ocean" is a play by American playwright August Wilson. It is the first installment of his decade-by-decade, ten-play chronicle, "The Pittsburgh Cycle", dramatizing the African-American experience in the twentieth century.

Plot

The play is set in 1904 at 1839 Wylie Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Hill District. Aunt Esther, the drama's 285-year-old fiery matriarch, welcomes into her home Solly Two Kings, who was born into slavery and scouted for the Union Army, and Citizen Barlow, a young man from Alabama searching for a new life. Citizen Barlow is in search of redemption. Aunt Esther is not too old to practice healing; she guides him on a soaring, lyrical journey of spiritual awakening to the City of Bones.

Characters

; Aunt Ester Tyler: a former slave and a "soul-cleanser", who is the head of 1839 Wylie Avenue. She claims to be 285 years old and acts as the benevolent, if disciplinarian, ruler of the household. She entertains the romantic ambitions of Solly. She is a a recurring character in several of Wilson's plays of the Pittsburgh Cycle. ; Citizen Barlow: A young man from Alabama who comes to the house to be cleansed by Ester. He is enlisted to help construct a wall, and eventually journeys to The City of Bones.; Solly Two Kings: a friend of Aunt Ester. He is a former slave from Alabama who later became a conductor on the underground railroad and a scout for the Union Army. He makes a career of gathering up dog excrement, which he calls "pure", for manure. He carries a large walking stick and is in love with Aunt Ester. His real name is Alfred Jackson, but he calls himself "Two Kings" (referring to King David and King Solomon), and is nicknamed Solly. ; "Black" Mary Wilkes: Ester's housekeeper and her protege in the art of Soul Cleansing. Caeser's sister. She performs most of the household tasks, but never to the satisfaction of Ester. ; Caesar Wilkes: Black Mary's brother, a policeman, baker and land-owner. He upholds the law at all costs. He practices strict capitalism and has no qualms with killing a man over a petty crime.; Eli: Aunt Ester's caregiver, he protects the inhabitants and is constructing a wall. He was Solly's comrade in his efforts on the Underground Railroad and for The Union Army.; Rutherford Selig: A white peddler and friend of Ester's who frequently visits the house. He sells pots, pans and other crockery.

ynopsis

1904, Pittsburgh: 1839 Wylie Street in the Hill District is the home of Aunt Ester, a 285-year-old former slave, who is a keeper of tradition and history for her people and a renowned cleanser of souls. The people who pass through her parlor and kitchen include Eli, Aunt Ester’s protector; Black Mary, her housekeeper and protegé; Solly Two Kings, a former slave, conductor on the Underground Railroad and scout for the Union Army; Black Mary’s brother, Caesar, a constable; Rutherford Selig, a white peddler; and Citizen Barlow, a new arrival from down South who needs Aunt Ester to help him absolve the guilt and shame from a crime he’s committed.

An incident at the local mill has ignited the African-American community. A black man was accused of stealing a bucket of nails. Rather than confessing to a crime he didn’t commit, he jumped into the river and drowned. This has made him a martyr to his co-workers who have gone on strike and are rioting. Caesar, the local law enforcement official, is in the middle of it. He’s arrested many people and shot one.

Against this turbulent backdrop Aunt Ester launches Citizen on a spiritual journey aboard the legendary slave ship, Gem of the Ocean, to the mythical City of Bones. There, Citizen comes to understand the story of his ancestors and faces the truth about his crime and the man he wronged.

Meanwhile, somebody sets fire to the mill. Caesar comes to the house and accuses Solly of arson. Solly strikes Caesar and runs away. Aunt Ester and Rutherford Selig help Solly sneak out of the city, accompanied by Citizen Barlow. However, Caesar catches up to Solly and shoots him. When Caesar comes to Aunt Ester’s to question Citizen about the incident, Black Mary renounces Caesar. Caesar leaves and Citizen takes up where Solly left off, guiding his people on their journey toward freedom.

Productions

In 2004 and 2005, the play ran at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway and received five Tony Award nominations. Ben Brantley of "The New York Times" wrote of the play: "A swelling battle hymn of transporting beauty. Theatergoers who have followed August Wilson's career will find in "Gem" a touchstone for everything else he has written".

"Gem of the Ocean" is playing now at the Seattle Repertory Theatre under the direction of Phylicia Rashad, who originated the role of Aunt Ester on Broadway, as well as The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, in Ashland, Oregon.

References

*cite book | author=Wilson, August | title=Gem of the Ocean | location=New York | publisher=Theatre Communications Group | year=2006 | isbn=1559362804

External links

*
* [http://theater2.nytimes.com/2004/12/07/theater/reviews/07ocea.html?ex=1174017600&en=8696cb3285fe183c&ei=5070 NY Times Review] Accessed 14 March 2007