Paradise Blue--An Intense and Beautifully Woven New Play

By Joseph Cervelli

It is not a spoiler to state that one of the lead characters is shot in the very first scene of Dominique Morisseau’s intense new play at the Pershing Square Signature Theatre which is marked with both fierceness and humor.  Morisseau gave us the excellent “Pipeline” this past season,  and as I did with that show marvel at how well this playwright has an innate feel for her characters. The storyline is never simple but there is such a palpable embodiment in each of her characters. Few playwrights can draw you into the psyches of their characters yet she does it with such ease and believability. 

The first thing you notice are the multitude of posters alining the walls of the theater with ads (scenic designer Neil Patel) for the top jazz musicians and singers and where there they are playing (time of play is 1949.) 

Director Ruben Santiago-Hudson has an ostensible feel for the time period directing in a film noir style which enhances the play's time period. 

The play takes place in Detroit in a jazz club owned by Blue (J. Alphonse Nicholson) which is a fixture in the area previously owned by his late dad who suffered  severe mental issues resulting in tragic consequences. Blue's girlfriend, Pumpkin (Kristolyn Lloyd),   who loves and frequently recites poetry is both dedicated to him and to the bar both cooking and serving the patrons. She is so in love with Blue that she accepts his physical abuse knowing that he is possessed by some demons he cannot control. He is also the trumpet player and has just fired one of the three  other musicians. The other two are the womanising and heavy drinking drummer P-Sam (Francois Battiste) and the mild mannered pianist Corn (Keith Randolph Smith.) P-Sam wants Blue to hire another musician but has the fear that the owner will kowtow to the demands of the mayor who wants to rid the area of “blight” which the musicians feel refer to the blacks. Gentrification is taking place even during this particular time. Blue’s personality is an enigmatic one and Nicholson plays him quite well. He always appears on the  the verge of exploding. You later find out what all these emotional outbursts are the result of. 

The other character is the stunning Silver (Simone Missick) played with the style of a true film noir temptress. She swaggers and purrs when she speaks to the musicians. One thinks of both Lana Turner and Lizabeth Scott from so many of their roles as true femmes fatales. She rents a room above the bar and while she said she killed her husband you never are quite sure. Her sultry seduction of the likeable Corn is for ulterior motives. 

Battiste is both superbly funny and vehement in his portrayal of a man who wants more for this town than to be pushed out. His performance is always on target, and even when he rages it is never overwrought.

Smith makes Corn a very kind hearted fellow who wants to do best by everyone. And Lloyd beautifully plays  the supportive Pumpkin who eventually gets caught up in the behavior of the distraught Blue.

What makes for  such an impressive play is  the way the characters under Santiago-Hudson’s indelibly  sensitive direction interplay with each other so convincingly. The sadness of the plight of these inhabitants  when the redevelopment of the Black Bottom district of Detroit takes place is rendered with real feeling. 

"Paradise Blue" proves to be an  arresting work by Morisseau that makes me full of hope to see what else she has for us. 

Tickets are available at the Pershing Square Signature Theatre 480 West 42nd Street or by calling 877.661.6439. Limited engagement has been extended to June 17. 

PHOTOS: JOAN MARCUS