It’s hard to escape the comparisons to August Wilson in Dominique Morisseau’s jazz-inflected period drama “Paradise Blue,” part of a trilogy of plays set in different time periods in Morisseau’s native Detroit.
And like Wilson with his award-winning 10-part saga of 20th-century Pittsburgh, Morisseau is drawn both to a piercingly lyrical writing style as well as an acute examination of the plight of her African American characters.
“Paradise Blue,” which opened Monday in a soulful production at Off Broadway’s Signature Theatre, is set in 1949 at a jazz club/boarding house in Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood that Blue (J. Alphonse Nicholson) inherited from his late father and has very nearly run into the ground. (The neighborhood lent its name to a dance that featured in Wilson’s ’20s-set play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”)
Blue is a troubled soul, as talented a musician as he is bullheaded a man, and he hatches an escape plan for himself by selling his Paradise club to the city’s new mayor as part of a gentrification plan to rid the city of its “blight.”
“We the blight he’s talking about,” remarks P-Sam (Francois Battiste), a drummer in the club’s resident band whose livelihood would be threatened by the sale — along with that of piano man Corn (a sturdy Keith Randolph Smith) and Blue’s longtime squeeze and frequent punching bag, Pumpkin (Kristolyn Lloyd).
Pumpkin is a meek bookish type, though she doesn’t remain one for very long. Before you can say “deus ex machina,” a stranger enters the establishment to unsettle all of the characters in turn. Silver is a widow with a mysterious past and an eyebrow-raising stack of bills in her silky body-fitting outfit. As embodied by the remarkable Simone Missick, she seems to have shimmied straight out of a classic noir or a Walter Mosley novel.
If the characters and set-up sound a little stock, Morisseau manages to elevate them with some pointed commentary and poetic turns of phrase. Her writing consistently elevates material that might otherwise seem pat — though Blue himself remains mostly a cipher, the suggestions of mental illness never quite coalescing into a character who holds our interest, let alone our sympathy.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson stages the action, including the musical interludes, with a sure and steady hand — building to a climax that is suitably surprising even if it does not quite feel earned.
Tony Nominations Biggest Snubs and Surprises, From 'SpongeBob' to Uma Thurman
"Mean Girls" and "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical" led this year's Tony Awards nominations with 12 each. Here are some of the biggest surprises and snubs among the categories.
SURPRISE: "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical"
A musical based on a Nickelodeon cartoon about aquatic life -- complete with a grab-bag score of hits by veteran pop musicians -- shocked everyone by tying with "Mean Girls" as the year's most-nominated show.
SNUB: "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical"
The jukebox compilation about the Queen of Disco earned just two nods, for two of the three actresses playing the star: LaChanze and Ariana DeBose.
SURPRISE: Amy Schumer, "Meteor Shower"
The comic actress earned strong reviews for her Broadway debut in Steve Martin's four-person comedy but Hollywood stars don't always make the cut -- especially in comedies and shows that have long since closed.
SNUB: Uma Thurman, "A Parisian Woman"
The movie star got mostly negative reviews for her Broadway review in Beau Willimon's political drama.
SURPRISE: "Latin History for Dummies"
John Leguizamo's one-man comedic tour of Latin history scored a surprise nod in the Best Play category -- over more traditional choices.
SNUB: Chris Evans, "Lobby Hero"
Marvel's big-screen Captain America won raves for his Broadway debut but was passed over by nominators in favor of co-stars Michael Cera and Brian Tyree Henry
SURPRISE: Taylor Louderman, "Mean Girls"
Lead mean girl Taylor Louderman was a surprise not just because she's competing with veterans like Jessie Mueller and LaChanze -- but because nominators mysteriously expanded the category to allow for six nominees instead of the usual five.
SNUB: Elizabeth McGovern, "Time and the Conways"
The "Downton Abbey" alum earned raves for her performance in this revival -- but the fact that it had a limited run last fall clearly worked against her.
SURPRISE: Steven Hoggett, Choreography, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
It's rare that the choreography of a nonmusical gets any recognition -- but Hoggett's cape-twirling movement got deserved recognition.
SNUB: "Escape to Margaritaville"
The Jimmy Buffett jukebox musical has been struggling at the box office -- and its complete shut-out by Tony nominators isn't going to help matters.
SURPRISE: Brian Tyree Henry, "Lobby Hero"
The "Atlanta" star delivers a scene-stealing turn in the Kenneth Lonergan revival and beat out co-star Chris Evans for a nod.
SNUB: Keegan-Michael Key, "Meteor Shower"
The Emmy-winning comic actor has many scene-stealing moments in the Steve Martin comedy, but the fact that the show ended its limited run in January clearly worked against him.
SNUB: Michael Moore
Fox News fans can breathe easier -- the liberal firebrand's one-man show "Terms of My Surrender" got no love from Tony nominators.
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And ”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child“ didn’t dominate as expected
"Mean Girls" and "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical" led this year's Tony Awards nominations with 12 each. Here are some of the biggest surprises and snubs among the categories.
