“Dontrell, Who Kissed The Sea” reviewed by Jeffrey Liebham

Highly Recommended **** Dontrell Jones III is certainly a very intelligent and insightful young man. The title character of Nathan Alan Davis’ play “Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea,” currently receiving its Chicago premiere at the First  Floor Theater, is an 18 year old spending the final days of his summer vacation before his freshman classes begin at Johns Hopkins University. Surrounded by a loving and nurturing family and a well-adjusted best friend, Dontrell (Jalen Gilbert) is also restless. He has recently been suffering from nightmares which have left him driftless and troubled, visions of his ancestors drowning in the Atlantic Ocean during the Middle Passage. Documenting his own words and feelings, Dontrell carries a small tape recorder around with him to create an oral history for future generations that he calls his “captain’s log.” With brazen determination Dontrell leaves everything behind as his quest for truth and justice leads him to explore the ocean’s depths. The course that his journey traverses makes for some magical realism in Nathan Alan Davis’ poetic and ambitious work.

Dontrell’s younger sister, Danielle (Destiny Strothers) is terrified that she will be the only child at home once Dontrell leaves for Johns Hopkins. She knows that their Mom (Shariba Rivers) likes her son more than her and judges her more strictly. Dontrell’s best friend, Robby (Jerome Beck) is not pursuing higher education and vaguely jests that Dontrell is wasting his time, though it seems that Robby may be jealous that Dontrell got accepted to such a prestigious university. Robby prefers to drive around Baltimore and create clever rap songs whenever he is with Dontrell. Dad (Brian Nelson, Jr.) is more of an omniscient presense, a faithful husband and hard-working father but always on the periphery, a strong but silent being. Dontrell is a person whom everything in his life seems to have come very easily to him. Having never learned to swim, Dontrell goes to the local swimming pool and just jumps right into the water, assuming that this newly acquired talent will just come naturally to him. Upon nearly drowning, he is rescued by Erika (Kayla Raelle Holder), the lifeguard on duty. Erika promises to teach Dontrell how to swim and a romantic relationship begins to blossom between the two. Meanwhile, Dontrell’s cousin Shea (Brianna Buckley), who works at the National Aquarium, has agreed to secretly obtain a wetsuit and set of diving fins for Dontrell. Dontrell has not told anyone in his family about his plan for he fears that they may think he is delusional. Shea told Dontrell about their grandfather (Dontrell Jones the First) who also had visions and spiritual turmoil, a man who bought an old fishing boat to go on his own exploration but everyone just treated him as a crazy, drunk old man. At Dontrell’s graduation party (his second, by the way, as his mother impulsively demands that he needs to have another one) his family meets Erika for the first time and his covert agenda is revealed. Needless to say, it does not go swimmingly.

“Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea” is such a success because of the central performance of Jalen Gilbert as Dontrell. This virile and charming actor has created a character that you can’t help but cheer for. He is clever and sincere, always at ease and he brings a refreshing naturalness and exuberance to the role. Even in the physically demanding movement in the play’s concluding moments Gilbert is capable of walking the fine line that separates reality and illusion. Brian Nelson, Jr. is also wonderful as Dad. It’s a shame that he doesn’t have more time on stage but his scene alone with his son is volcanic, tempering his anger and frustation with the affection that he finds so difficult to convey to Dontrell. Director Chika Ike, who spent time with playwright Davis a few years ago at Indiana University, has found both humor and lyrical beauty in this script. Scenic Designer Eleanor Kahn, assisted by Samantha Myers who also designed the props, has created a very atmospheric milieu with minimal set design. Dontrell’s bed morphs into a diving board at the swimming pool and later becomes a boat afloat on Chesapeake Bay as it sails toward the Atlantic. Rachel Levy’s lighting is most impressive during the final scenes as Dontrell confronts his supernatural apparitions under water. Choreographer Breon Arzell has incorporated stylized movement that draws from native African dance and folkloric ritual. The percussive stomping of all of the actor’s feet, clapping of hands or pounding on chests as well as rhythmic vocal chants all add to a powerful soundscape.

Playwright Davis has stated that Saul Williams is the artist or writer that has been his biggest influence. One could also argue that August Wilson is somehow in that mix as well, as there are echoes of his play “Gem of the Ocean” in this highly inventive work which deals with heritage, culture, legacy and finding your rightful place in the world.

Dive into “Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea.” Join this perceptive young man on his spiritual awakening. From the ocean’s floor you will be surrounded by phantom, sentient beings. Listen to their stories and learn from their history. They will haunt you long after you are submerged, lungs burning as you are coming up for air.

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“Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea” is at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago.

Through March 31, 2018.

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM.

Tickets are $10 to $20 and are on sale now at firstfloortheater.com.

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