Purpose is a Tony award winning play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins now playing at The Huntington Theatre‘s Calderwood Pavilion. It is an energetic, contemporary, family story that starts off with Nazareth Solomon played by Omari K. Chancellor narrating his own story. Well, a small part of his story because as the play continues the twists and turns of this young man’s life and family crescendo.
A honey bee colony typically consists of three kinds of adult bees: workers, drones, and a queen. Several thousand worker bees cooperate in nest building, food collection, and brood rearing. Each member has a definite task to perform, related to its adult age. But surviving and reproducing take the combined efforts of the entire colony. Individual bees (workers, drones, and queens) cannot survive without the support of the colony.
The purpose of bees is not to make honey, but we do enjoy honey and it is probably the most overt way that people appreciate the work of bees. Of course, it is their pollinating work that benefits us the most. Purpose is a play about a fictional family inspired by and reflective on the life of Jesse Jackson. The Jaspers are a family whose clearly defined roles, purpose, and place in family and political life are revealed as the play unfolds. The theme of surviving and reproducing is recurring in Purpose .
The set and costumes have been excellent from each production at The Huntington and Purpose is no exception. The creative team includes: scenic design by Se Hyun Oh (The Hills of California), costume design by Celeste Jennings (Fun Home), lighting design by Marika Kent (Ulysses at The Public), sound design and original music by Kathy Ruvuna(Cold War Choir Practice Off Broadway). I loved each of the characters that playwright Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins created and the actors chosen to play those roles were on point!
I don’t like to give away too much of a story line, so I won’t mention specifics, but different generations of family members dealing with each generation and their flaws is something familiar to many in any given audience. Purpose takes a look at a religious, which in turn also means political, and prominent family and how they embrace or reject their children’s choices as well as their “g-d given” sexuality and life “choices”. There are many funny moments as well as tender and thought-provoking ones in this play. Purpose is just under three hours, but the space is filled quite well with the fleshed out technicolor lives and personalities of each character and their relationships to one another.
The cast played so well off of one another. Ezra Knight played Solomon Jasper, an intense father and community figure, who in his older age perhaps starts to round his edges and while still being very rigid begins to lean in ever so slightly. Phyllis Yyvonne Stickney plays Claudine Jasper, the mother and preacher’s wife. She is strong and stubborn for good reason. Omari K. Chancellor plays Nazareth Jasper, the youngest son, narrator and the quiet center of the story. Ugo Chukwu plays Solomon “Junior” Jasper the eldest son who is not the most complex character who is in the most complex situation. MarHadoo Effeh as Morgan Jasper, is the “over this crazy family” wife of Solomon Jr. whose character and story is slowly revealed throughout the play. Kalyne Ashley Coleman plays the effervescent Aziza Houston who is a friend of Nazareth. She is the one person who can be marked safe from being a part of the Solomon Family and just narrowly escapes it all.
Tickets and Special Performances
The Huntington’s Purpose is playing at the Calderwood Pavilion through October 11th. Tickets can be purchased here.
Tickets start at $29. Season ticket packages and FlexPasses are also on sale online, by phone at 617-266-0800, and in person at the Huntington Theatre (264 Huntington Ave) or Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont Street). Available discounts (valid ID required) include: $25 student tickets, $30 military tickets, and $40 “HYPE” tickets (Huntington Young Patron Events) for patrons 40 years-old and younger. There are a limited number of Pay-What-You-Wish tickets by phone or at the box office. The Huntington asks that any patron experiencing illness stay home and contact ticketing services for more information about exchanges.
The Huntington will host one Boston Family Days performance for Purpose on Friday, September 11th at 7:30pm.
On Sunday, September 20th at 7pm, in community partnership with Embrace Boston, The Huntington will host a Blackout Performance event for those who identify as members of Africa’s Global Diaspora (inclusive of Black folk of all identities). A Blackout performance is the purposeful creation of an environment in which a majority-Black-identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts, film, athletic, and cultural spaces–free from the white gaze. Tickets to this performance are Pay What You Wish starting at $5 and you can find information about reserving tickets here. There will be a pre-show gathering at 6pm with light bites, community, and music from Díjí Kay.
There will also be a student matinee performance on Friday, September 25 at 10 am, hosted by The Huntington Education Department.
The purpose of Purpose is provoking thought, creating drama and humour, and entertaining an audience of people from all walks of life. I’d say it was successful.
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