(Cedric The Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson. Photo by Julieta Cervantes)

by Tim Leininger

NEW YORK — It’s another season with revivals by two major playwrights, and as usual, one is getting more acclaim than the other, and this time, most people got it wrong. The best revival this year isn’t Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, it’s August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, directed by Debbie Allen, running through July 26 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre at 243 W. 47^th St.

            Now, I admit, I was a bit dubious seeing Cedric the Entertainer’s name billed next to Taraji P. Henson at first, just as much as some other people were when the show was announced, but these two make a fantastic, charming couple as Seth and Bertha Holly. I already had plenty of faith in Taraji, and Cedric proved he has the acting chops to handle a writer as profound as August Wilson. The duo create a sense of warmth and affection mixed with casual humor that never feels forced or leading with the audience as the owners of a boarding house, going about their daily lives, from making biscuits to pressing sheet metal into different tools, selling them to people like Rutherford Selig (Bradley Stryker) with some head scratching math, until a new, mysterious tenant, Herald Loomis (Joshua Boone), arrives with his daughter Zonia (Savannah Commodore or Dominique Skye Tuner).

            Herald is looking for his long-lost wife, Martha, who disappeared while Herald was taken into slavery by the titular Joe Turner. The play is set in 1911 and Joe Turner had been abducting Black people and enslaving them regardless of its official illegality. Severely scarred, emotionally and physically, Herald is a shell of the man he once was, once of devout faith and promise. Joshua Boone’s performance is haunting and brutal as any little thing may trigger Herald into a ferocious display of PTSD.

(Cedric The Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Joshua Boone, Nimene Sierra Wureh, Savannah Commodore. Photo by Julieta Cervantes)

            Alongside Seth and Bertha in this adventure is the quirky Bynum Walker (Ruben Santiago-Hudson), a devoutly spiritual man, if not necessarily Christian, having local children like Reuben Scott (Jackson Edward Davis or Christopher Woodley) bring in animals for rituals. He specializes as the local medicine man, creating little potions to help with other tenants with their problems, like Mattie Campbell (Nimene Sierra Wureh), who asks him to fix her relationship with her lover. There is also musician — and local playboy — Jeremy Furlow (Tripp Taylor) who juggles feelings for both Mattie and another tenant Molly Cunningham (Maya Boyd). Reuben becomes friends with Zonia, who have delightful interlude scenes discussing the oddities of adulthood from their youthful perspective.

            Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is, chronologically, the second in August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, though the fourth one written. It’s not the best of the series, the Jeremy, Mattie, Molly love triangle feels like filler material that doesn’t add much to the rest of the drama. That’s not taking anything away from Wureh, Taylor, and Boyd, who are all wonderful. The first scene between Wureh and Taylor, is some of the most delightfully playful romantic acting I’ve seen all season. The problem is that this side plot doesn’t really play any significance to the rest of the drama outside of a punchline at the end.

            What makes Joe Turner so good, though, is the representation of the deeper spiritual nature of the community of people and how those faiths, whatever they be, motivate the characters when problems arise. There’s a great moment during the Act I finale where the members of the boardinghouse gather for a dance. It’s robust with spiritual passion. But when Herald arrives and breaks it up, the mood shift into this darker representation of spiritualism invades as his lapsed preacher self breaks through. It’s all variations of a theme. The early 1900s was a time of promise for a lot of Black people as The Great Migration was starting, but for others it was a time of massive grief as the systems that were supposed to be gone after the Civil War persisted and continued to destroy lives. Each character has their spiritual place, and they all have something to cry out from within. Sometimes it’s liberating and others it’s horrifying. Director Debbie Allen understands this and centralizes these moments of spiritual release for each character as it comes. She uses all the skills of scenic designer David Gallo, costume designer Paul Tazewell, lighting designer Stacey Derosier, and sound designer Justin Ellington to create a specific atmosphere for each exhibition of expression, from the aforementioned Herald scene that hits like a sledgehammer to the chest to intimate musical moments with Jeremy.

(Joshua Boone, Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Julieta Cervantes)

            Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is the revival of the year and everyone should go see this fantastic drama while it’s still open. The cast is excellent from top to bottom with standout performances by Joshua Boone and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Debbie Allen deftly brings together this diverse collection of characters all from different spiritual walks, creating a nexus as they clash and release in spectacular fashion.

TICKETS: https://joeturnerbway.com/

PRODUCTION

Written by August Wilson; Directed by Debbie Allen; Scenic Design: David Gallo; Costume Design: Paul Tazewell; Lighting Design: Stacey Derosier; Sound Design: Justine Ellington; Hair & Wig Design: Mia Neal; Original Music & Music Supervisor: Steve Bargonetti; Vocal & Dialect Coach: Dawn-Elin Fraser; Associate Director: David Blackwell; Production Stage Manager: Johnny Milani; Advertising/Marketing: AKA; Press Representative: DKC/O&M; Company Manager: Edward Nelson; Marketing Direction: Bond Theatrical, Linda Stewart; Casting: ARC, Duncan Stewart, CSA & Jarrett Reiche, CSA; Production Management: Hudson Theatrical Associates; General Management: 101 Productions, LTD, Chris Morey

CAST

Taraji P. Henson as Bertha Holly

Cedric the Entertainer as Seth Holly

Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Bynum Walker

Joshua Boone as Herald Loomis

Maya Boyd as Molly Cunningham

Tripp Taylor as Jeremy Furlow

Abigail Onwunali as Martha Loomis

Nimene Sierra Wureh as Mattie Campbell

Bradley Stryker as Rutherford Selig

Savannah Commodore as Zonia Loomis (Tue., Wed. eve., Thur.-Sat.)

Dominque Skye Turner as Zonia Loomis (Mon., Wed. mat.)

Jackson Edward Davis as Reuben Scott (Tue., Wed. eve., Fri & Sat.)

Christopher Woodley as Reuben Scott (Mon., Wed. mat. & Thur.)