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Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

BY Arturo Aldana
Twanas - Staff Writer

This year’s production of August Wilson’s play "Joe Turner’s Com and Gone" by the African American Theater Arts Troupe proved, without a doubt, that the troupe has blossomed into an artistic driving force on the UCSC campus, and the Santa Cruz community.

The troupe, headed by Don Williams who directed the play, has given its most memorable performance to date. While the majority of the troupe is made up of students whose interest vary from the sciences to politics, their collective performance was not short of perfect.

Eric Jackson and Laura Smith. Who play She and Bertha Holly, give wonderful performances as the husband and wife who rent out rooms to the other characters, including Harold Loomis, played by James Wellington Porter.

The story revolves around Loomis who is looking for his wife Martha. Along with his daughter Zonia, played by Christy Humphry and Charisse Winguard, Loomis meets the rest of the cat at the Holly House. He is completely enslaved by his search of love that no longer exists. It isn’t until he finds this love that he is capable of continuing with his life.

Zonia Loomis is caught in the middle of her father’s rut. While at the Holly house, she meets Reuben Mercer, played by Armond Edward Dorsey and Dejuan Williams. Reuben ends up falling for Zonia, who has not received any love from either parent. She, in essence, finds what her father had and can’t let go of.

The most interesting character that Loomis meets in his search is Bynum Walker, played by Joshua Bee Graham. Graham, who gives one of the best and most dynamic performances as the would-be spiritual healer who eventually frees Loomis from his personal prison. Blake riggs is great as the womanizing Jeremy Furlow who "shacks-up" with Mattie Campbell, played by Tsadae Neway, as she waits for the man who left her to return. A first year troupe members, Neway is delightful as the woman who is willing to solicit the help of Walker to get back the man who left her. She is herself bound by the memory of this man, just like Loomis

Fitima Mariama Morris gives the most refreshing performance as she transforms the intellectual and liberated character of Molly Cunningham into a show stopping force of wit and wisdom with her genuine spark and sensuality. Not only does Cunningham chop up Forlow and his advances, but she also manages to set Campbell straight just by being herself.

The most emotional performances was given by Jennifer Vylasek, who played Marth Pentecost, as she is re-united with her husband and daughter. Vylasek moved the audience nearly to tears as she explained that she did not in fact abandon her daughter but has been searching for her. This years Troupe hosted several people outside of the university. Dejuan Antonio Williams and Charisse Winguard are both 14 years old and students at Westlake Elementary School and Mission Junior High, respectively.

Ed Rosser is currently a student at Cabrillo College. His portrayal of Rutherford Selig, the man who finds Martha Pentecost, was at times humorous and cynical. James Wellington Porter is currently pursuing a career on stage and in film. As Harold Loomis, Porter is currently pursuing a career on stage and in film and gives a spine chilling performance as the man trapped by the past.


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