Faith, Fate and Family

Maya Thomas (left), Lanny Smith, Seth Alexander Rue, Jonathan Thompson and Carmen Brantley-Payne in OCT’s Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea

The drums beat, heavy and slow at first, then picking up speed like a heartbeat. The rhythm pushes for answers, for ancestry. Dontrell cannot escape the dreams calling him to this quest — dreams of a forebearer who leapt to his death from a slave ship during the Middle Passage.

But Dontrell has a scholarship to maintain, a family to deal with and he can’t swim. Making his way into the middle of the Atlantic feels as hopeless as any hero’s journey. Faith, fate and family will all step in to shuffle his chances of success.

Dontrell, Who Kissed The Sea, now playing at Oregon Contemporary Theatre, is unlike anything I’ve seen. Author Nathan Alan Davis is a bewitching writer. He layers modern language, slang and cussing into a gorgeous script.

Up against these divine words are down-to-earth characters. Dontrell is a believable hero, an honors student at the nexus of genius and madness. His family is neither mythically wise nor sordidly dysfunctional; they’re just a group of generally good people doing their best, sharing moments of love amidst the tumult of lives that make up a home. I am grateful for Davis’ understanding of bitchy types, and just how valuable they are in a family.

Co-directors Maya Thomas and Craig Willis cocoon this extraordinary script in a simple set with thoughtful projections. Insightful costuming and striking choreography illuminate the magical realism of the story. Weighty performances anchor the production.

Jonathan Thompson crafts a compassionate interpretation of Dontrell. Lanny Mitchell and Maya Thomas as Dad and Mom are powerful. Seth Alexander Rue gives wings to the joyful language of Robby.

Part of the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere series, Dontrell is playing in five cities over the course of a year. And playwright Davis will be in Eugene to attend a free public forum and Q&A at 3 pm Friday, June 4, at OCT.

At this point, I ask that you set down this review and order your tickets for Dontrell, Who Kissed The Sea. This play illuminates a corner of the human condition and will change the way we understand a hero in the context of his family.

Dontrell, Who Kissed The Sea plays through June 13 at Oregon Contemporary Theatre; tickets at octheatre.org or 465-1506.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!