The climax is the highest point of the action, the highest point of tension, after which the rest of the play becomes inevitable. In a slight complication, Black Mary’s brother, Caesar, is not so taken with Citizen Barlow, Still, the romance continues. There is almost immediate chemistry between Citizen Barlow and Black Mary, when they meet, which Aunt Ester encourages. Aunt Ester ends up offering him not only work but a place to stay. Aunt Ester is drawn to Barlow because he reminds her of one of her sons. He has been told on the street that she can help him.

Citizen Barlow is desperately seeking an audience with Aunt Ester to help him with a burden weighing on his soul. The rising action begins with Citizen Barlow’s surprise entry into the house through the upstairs window. And late in the scene, Aunt Ester makes her long awaited (by us) appearance. As exposition, we learn that Eli takes care of the place, Black Mary cooks and cleans, Selig is in and out as a merchant, and Solly is a routine visitor.Īs an inciting incident, we discover a local man, accused of stealing nails, drowns himself in the river rather than face justice for something he didn’t do. Following a very short prologue that sort of sets the parameters of Aunt Ester’s visitation schedule, i.e., she see people on Tuesdays and the house is a peaceful sanctuary, we are introduced to the key characters, Eli, Black Mary, Selig, Solly, and Aunt Ester.

Often, the exposition is a summary of what has happened before the play itself begins. WMU student tickets are only available in person at the Gilmore Theatre Complex.The introduction (or exposition) explains the place and time of the action, and briefly characterizes the environment. Online purchases are serviced by Miller Auditorium. Presented by the WMU Center for the Humanities and in conjunction with Black Refractions: Highlights from The Studio Museum in Harlem, on display at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts - Sept 14 -Dec 8. Join him following the performance in the theatre for a conversation about the play. Kendi in attendance for the opening night performance of Gem of the Ocean. LET'S TALK EVENT “How To Be An Antiracist”įeaturing New York Times bestselling author Ibram X.

Patrons under the age of 8 will not be admitted, including babes in arms. A powerful story of holding on to your ancestry in order to forge your future, Gem of the Ocean is truly a masterpiece. When Citizen Barlow comes to her home seeking asylum, she sets him off on a spiritual journey to the mythical “City of Bones”, via the slave ship Gem of the Ocean. Set in 1904, the play begins on the eve of Aunt Esther's 287th birthday. Gem of the Ocean is the ninth work in August Wilson's ten-play cycle recording the American Black experience. “.a mountain of a play, epic from the opening seconds.” - Washington Post

Gem of the ocean