Fountain Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
Fountain Theatre presents Gem of the Ocean, one of August Wilson's most celebrated works. Set in Pittsburgh in 1904, it tells the story of Citizen Barlow, who seeks the aid of the legendary healer Aunt Ester to cleanse him of his guilt. This production has received 8 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Nominations.
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The last date listed for Gem of the Ocean was Sunday February 15, 2009 / 2:00pm. (view all dates)
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All the actors were excellent and kept me entertained. There was never a dull moment.
A MUST SEE!
This production is all the things great plays are made of - stunning cast, gorgeous & well thought out set, and lyrical, poetic lines that August Wilson is known for. One of the earlier decades (1904) of Wilson's decades pieces, I was not sure as a twenty-something year old, that the material would connect with me but I was proven wrong by the universal themes of loneliness & the search for self/love which both resonated at a time when I couldn't have needed to hear it more.
I LOVE the Fountain Theatre and have never been disappointed with any of the plays here! Please go out and see this "Gem" of a theatre piece, it will be 2 hours well spent, especially during a season when a mental getaway from holiday madness, financial woes, and family drama is a MAJOR requirement.
BRAVO!
The set was fabulous and the cast was very good. It takes a certain type of personality to adore August Wilson's vision. I loved it! The Citizen Barlow character had a lot of work to do and I dont think he nailed the part but he did a fabulous job. The Fountain is a FANTASTIC place to see a play, theres no way you could not enjoy this venue.
Absolutely fanatsic performances from all the actors on well constructed set in an intimate theatre space.
It was my first time seeing "Gem." The acting was exceptional! The sound and lighting were first rate and the costumes and stage design made you feel like you had been transported back to the turn of the 20th century! If you can still get tickets, jump on them. I loved it!
Excellent cast, great seats. Very enjoyable. I highly recommend. Set was wonderful, message of the play very timely. August Wilson's writing is timeless.
The actors were excellent and well cast! More than the story line, I got caught up in the characters themselves. That is a well written story when you "care" about the characters. It was heartfelt and leaves one with a lot to think about! Very impressed. Well done!
Excellent production, great acting, wonderful set design and effects.
I loved the play it was very will act and will repensentive.
The acting was outstanding! The set was brilliant and the projections and sound were excellent! Thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.
The story was so so. The actors were good. They gave an ok performance. A part of the play reminded me of the Twilight Zone. I am sure if you're a fan of the television series you will instantly know.
It was a pretty good show even though I felt at times the actors were not believeable and were overacting. I loved the set!
I really enjoyed the acting, but I wasn't able to fully grasp the meaning of the play. I probably need to see it one more time, but it is worth attending.
Gem of the Ocean is what theatre is all about! A movingly professional production. I'm grateful for the experience of witnessing it.
Another superb production at the Fountain Theatre. August Wilson's plays are not easy to produce, many larger and richer companies all over the country often fail.
This "Gem of the Ocean" succeeds in all areas and manages to rope together a sometimes unwieldy plot into an enveloping, spellbound whole. One really feels immersed in 1904 Pittsburgh even though 2009 Fountain Avenue is just outside.
The actors are utterly superb and perfectly cast in every role. Each finds unexpected riches in their character which is immediate and humanly engaging within Wilson's lofty themes. Sometimes the weight of these themes almost sink his plays, but most definitely not here. The stage is always alive and aglow with life.
At the center of all these jewels is Keith Arthur Bolden's Citizen Barlow- a remarkable, understated performance, heartbreaking, multi-faceted and haunting. You will never forget his performance.
Simply put: GO.
This production is top notch on all levels. The acting, sound and lighting are all worth the price of admission. I highly reccommend this production.
Wonderful play, lovely small theatre, good audience, very good actors. What more can I say? Oh,yes. Good chocolate chip cookies at the upstairs cafe during intermission!
This was an excellent play. The actors were great. The location made for an intimate conncetion with the play, I would see it again.
The actors and the venue were the highlight of this show. I grew to like, care about, understand and worry for the people in this play - the hallmark of any theater piece. The production was interesting, not your normal fare, and made something different out of August Wilson's work. I enjoyed the small stage and the intimacy of the Fountain Theater. I will certainly return.
Great play! Very well executed.
The actors did an excellent job. There was never a dull moment. I have seen all of August Wilson's plays and once again he did not disappoint. Great Play.
Two minutes in the first act I realized I had seen this play at the Ahmanson when it first premiered. The perfomance was equally as good as the Ahmanson performance with obvious difference that the stage was far smaller, though the intimacy of the setting added to the emotion of the play. This was not my favorite of The August Wilson plays I have seen though upon Sunday morning disussion my girlfriend and I began to understand the underlying story Wilson was telling. This was our first experience at the Fountain Theatre and were pleasantly surpised by the quality of the presenation. Probably not the best choice for Valentines day, but clearly worth the evening.
The play was AMAZING!
Amazing actors! Mr. Wilson would be proud!
Gem of the Ocean was GREAT. You can't go wrong when doing a play by Pulitzer Prize Winner August Wilson. I hope many more will be presented in the near future. I also enjoyed my 1st experience at the Fountain Theater.
Overall I enjoyed the play and the intimacy of the theater (it is small, so though we were in the back row, we could still see everyting). I thought some of the actors were stronger than others and the choreography of the fight scenes was obvious making it less believable. But, the strength of other actors made up for that and kept me interested in the characters and the conflict. The piece itself has a lot of subtext and made me want to discuss it afterwards to truly try and digest it.
August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean was absolutely amazing and quite moving literally and figuratively. I love how Wilson incorporates magical realism and draws from African Diasporic influences. The acting was AMAZING, so realistic and on point. Comedic scenes actually drew laughter, while serious scenes left people speechless and mesmerized. The set was gorgeous with real light fixtures, faucet, and edible food. Highly believable. The theatre has a very nice cafe that offers ridiculously big pieces of cake and pie. Wine is also available for donation of pay-what-you-can. Top quality professional production at a very reasonable price! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Very friendly, jovial staff :)
This was one of the best performances I have seen in a long time. The actors were magnificent. I was drained at the end but I enjoyed every minute of this play.
Excellent stagecraft and all the performances were at an extremely high level. Combined with a great play this was a memorable theatrical experience.
The acting was superb especially the policeman. However, the play was too long and could use some editing. The exorcise part was over done and at times a bit ridiculous.
The cast was amazing. It is a must see!
The story is a bit unusual and hard to follow. There's some overacting making it humorous when it shouldn't be. I appreciate the amount of work the actors had to prepare to perform a piece like this. It was like watching an advanced acting class. It seems a great peformance and venue for developing actors to get performing experience or for aspiring actors to watch for study. Kudos to the actors for hard work. As far as pure entertainment though I wouldn't recommend it to a friend.
Spectacular acting. Excellent story. Do not miss this!
Great acting, but wasn't very smitten by the story which ran a little too long. Very cozy little theatre.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The acting was magnificent! I would recommend the play to anyone.
This is the second August Wilson play i have seen at Fountain. Both were simply amazing. I adore this theater; adore the plays they put on. The acting has been wonderful on both occasions i visited.
The place is a tiny and is warm and inviting - feels like a sanctuary.
The talent on display there is astonishing.
Wonderful acting --very well directed --a gem of a production
The cast did a great job. The theatre although small had good special effects and audio.
I took my girlfriend for her birthday and she thnked me so much. We both loved it. Great actors!
My 17-year-old daughter and I attended and we both had a wonderful experience. We both laughed, sometimes things were said that made us go hummmmmm and my daughter cried. The actors were exceptional each complimenting each other. The theatre was quaint and comfortable. I have already told several friends about the play and about the good afternoon my daughter and I had.
I really enjoyed the small theatre atmosphere. The actors were exceptionally talented. The price was well worth driving from Covina to Hollywood and enjoying great entertainment. I would go back to enjoy another play at this theatre.
it was slow in the first act but it was worth staying for the second act.
It was great! a wonderful and inspirational experience. the actors, audience and theater personnel, magnificent.
The acting was great. Story was just okay.
"Gem of the Ocean" is the first play in Wilson's ten-play "Pittsburgh Cycle," depicting African-American life in different decades of the 20th century. This play is set in 1904 Pittsburgh.
Top-notch acting all around, particularly by Adolphus Ward as Solly Two Kings, the kick-ass former slave who drives much of the action. Solly is a jovial man who supports himself by collecting and selling dog manure. He is proud and independent, and takes no s--t from anybody (pun intended). Other major characters are Aunt Esther, a 285-year-old
"soul cleanser," who appears in other August Wilson plays; and Citizen Barlow, whose sin (and redemption) also drives the action.
Well-staged, in an intimate venue. We were in the front row, where I like to be for live theatre. An insert in the program explains the meanings of several West African cultural symbols which are projected onto the set at various times; I recommend that you read this while waiting for the play to start. Although I did not understand all of the themes running through this play, I was deeply moved by the acting, and the humor, and the humanity. I loved these characters!
The acting was excellent!
Truly enjoyed this play. The directing and staging were excellent use of the physical stage. The actors certainly have their work cut out for them, because they tell a LOT of stories, and they did a fantastic job! I was involved in the characters and the plot, and walked away feeling that it was an evening well spent. I highly recommend it.
You will recognize every relative in your family! This play kept me entertained from the minute the lights went out. I took my 14 year old "I've seen everything there is to see," know-it-all niece and she was spellbound.
The actors are very intense. They carry you right along with them on their emotional roller coaster. It wasn't until I was 3/4 of the way through the production, that I realized I had viewed this production a year before. I was that good.
It is a small theater, so all the seats are excellent, up-close and personal.
For intermission, there is an upstairs cafe that has reasonably priced refreshments. I had a huge slice of "double-fudge" chocolate cake (yum).
The parking lot charges $5.00, but there is street parking available. My girlfriend and I had a great time for a Sunday afternoon.
The cast meshed incredibly well together to make this production the best ever of this fine August Wilson play. Some music has been added to it making a perfect embellishment. I have never seen a group of actors work so seamlessly well together before this production. I was blown away at the amount of energy each character must have pumped into the evening and to think they do it over and over again. I was exhausted just being part of the audience. The evening was such a treat. It probably spoiled me for other performances to come.
I took my family to see this play and we all enjoyed it. The acting, the set design/lightening, the direction-was all superb. And of course, August Wilson's writing and the historical context was right on! Loved the effect of the Akan symbols.
Interesting story with compelling characters. It was emotionally moving, I laughed, I cried. The performances were strong overall with some really shining stars. I would definitely recommend.
The actors were fantastic. The story was so heartfelt. I enjoyed every moment!
Excellent play with outstanding acting performances by all the actors. My wife and I loved being able to see this play in such an intimate venue. Bravo!
I am glad I went to see this performance it kept your attention the entire time and there were things for you to learn also. I say it was great. The "n" word could have been used less.
The problem was that this production paled in comparison to the Taper production of "Gem" about 4-5 years back. The central problem with this production was the performance by the actress playing Aunt Esther. The performance was by a decent actress, but she had the tone wrong (unlike Ms. Rashad at the Taper there was no believable mysticism to her portrayal), and it precluded the main themes of the play from being realized.
This is a fascinating look at a unique black community in 1904 Pittisburgh. Interesting with outstanding performances and staging. Well worth seeing.
Being from the deep south, the play reminded me of many deep truths and traditions found only in the south. Especially with the sense of family and belonging and duty unto thy neighbor. The reality of slavery was also a shock back to reality. This play really makes a person think about where one's loyalty lies. Even though we have laws, do we serve God or do we serve man? What about moral and ethical laws? The actors were excellent. I really didn't want it to end. But what great discussions we had afterwards. Fountain Theatre, Thank-You.
OMG from the moment it started it was captivating. It was so awesome I hated when we had to go to intermission, couldn't wait to come back to it!
OUTSTANDING PLAY! EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE. EVERYONE SHOULD GO SEE THIS PLAY.
Loved it! I even cried a bit.
Wonderfully acted production by one of the American Theatre's greatest writers. Everyone should see this production.
Amazing! What a performance! I absolutely loved it.
I really loved the set, it had so much detail. The characters were absolutely wonderful. The actual story was little slow, but it took off very nicely.
Terrific play. Wonderful actors. Excellent production.
too lengthy
Excellent play and extraordinary cast!!
This performance was riveting. This is one of the best plays our party of 8 has ever seen. Plays at the Fountain Theatre are amazing and the August Wilson plays are our favorites.
We loved it. The event felt so private and personal. There is not a bad seat in the house. I recognized on of the actors from Everybody Hates Chris. We also loved the ambiance of the Cafe upstairs. Also the event was easy to get to. We would go there again and again.
Loved the theatre, loved the play
I can only add really, really; I really, really loved it.
A riveting story and remarkable cast...add that to a cleverly crafted set and superb lightening design. The Fountain Theater is a treasure that everyone should discover. The Gem of the Ocean is an August Wilson jewel not to be missed!
I love theatre and this was fantastic!
it was really great. i highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed this event. The cast was spectacular. It is a must see.
Small personal theather, all seats are great and so was the show
Very good acting. Story not so hot. IMO the playwright was just churning out another moneymaker.
Loved it!
This is a WONDERFUL play! It was powerful and moving, and extremely well acted and directed. In every way, a gem of a play.
very satisfying theatre night! excellent performances by all!!
great theatre! great show!
The Fountain Theatre has struck gold again .... this version is vastly superior to the Large Theatre production that we saw five years ago.
This play was in Preview so there are kinks that need to be worked out.
I plan on seeing it again.
This was just the preview show and it was okay. I expect the opening will be better. Just the same it was interesting.
Saw the play at the Taper a few years ago. Didn't really get a handle on it. This production at the Fountain makes August Wilson's stunning play accessible to the audience. The Gem of the Ocean is a Gem of a theater piece when directed and performed so well. I wouldn't call it a performance...it was too real.
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The Fountain Theatre is a lovely, intimate, air-conditioned theater with 78 seats in four rows. It has won over 100 awards for theater excellence, including every major theater award in Los Angeles. "Broadway-caliber! Everything is first class at the Fountain," says the Los Angeles Times. Back Stage West says, "This theatre company is a precious jewel in the City of Angels' crown. One of the fi
A soul's journey to freedom. The power of redemption. Pittsburgh, 1904. Citizen Barlow, a tormented young man, appears at the home of Aunt Ester, a legendary 285-year-old healer and "soul cleanser." She sends him on an unforgettable journey in search of healing, love and hope for a new life.
<p>One of playwright August Wilson's masterpieces (''Best Play'' Tony nomination) from the acclaimed Fountain Theatre that presented the award-winning ''Joe Turner's Come and Gone''.
''Gem of the Ocean'' is the play that begins August Wilson's decade-by-decade cycle dramatizing the African American experience during the 20th century-an unprecedented series of 10 plays (2 Pulitzer Prize winners).
1904, Pittsburgh. Slavery is still a living memory. The haunting tale of Citizen Barlow, a spiritually tormented young man who pays a visit to the home of Aunt Ester, a former slave, on the eve of her 287th birthday. Citizen needs Aunt Ester, a legendary healer and ''soul-cleanser'', to help absolve him of the guilt and shame for an act he's committed. He asks if she can wash his soul and start him on the road to redemption. She sends him on a magical spiritual journey across history and time aboard the legendary slave ship, Gem of the Ocean, to the mythic City of Bones, which leads to startling discoveries and sets him on a course where duty leads to redemption.
The people who pass through Aunt Esther's house are an unforgettable collection of emotionally rich, compelling, and endearing characters. Her home teems with activity, a sanctuary where troubled people come to be cleansed of guilt and sorrow as they endure harsh factory working conditions and an inhospitable city.
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