An Opinion of Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods
By Camille Metoyer Moten and Lanette Metoyer Moore
One of the most important aspects to theater, in our
opinion, is not just entertainment, but enlightenment as well. When a play or musical can not only transport
you from your world but also educate, something special has been accomplished.
From the moment the lights cast a soft glow on the character
Gabriel in Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods,
we were all in. The softly spoken,
smiling young man slicing papaya (with a machete) intrigued us as he began to
make parallels between the fruit and the sun and his philosophy of hope. Yet his underlying umbrage cast its shadow as
the scene ended and the play began its course.
Lara Marsh’s exceptional direction gave us a strong story
that raised many questions relevant to who we are and where we are in
America. This story of a young Sudanese
refugee, Gabriel, gently unfolds and gives us much to think about. Gabriel had escaped from the violence and war
in his home country at the age of six.
Separated from his family and with hardships unimaginable for us, he eventually
finds his way to Pittsburgh where he works joyfully in a Whole Foods
store.
Christine, a newly divorced mother with a difficult teenage
daughter, comes to befriend Gabriel and like many of us…has a desire to help
him. This play makes us ask ourselves so
many questions. What is charity
anyway? When you help someone how far do
you go? Do you help until the help is no
longer needed? Or until you no longer
have time for that? Is help “throwing
money” at a project? Or is it
understanding, for example, that anyone undergoing this type of horrific
experience as a child will need so much more for a long time?
Where does the resentment in our country come from regarding
refugees, this country that was formed from refugees? For some African Americans it has to do with
help for Africans but little help for the ones that help to build this country
and still wallow in poverty and discrimination.
Or it could be the fear of jobs and a piece of the American Pie getting
smaller for those of privilege? These
are the questions we must answer.
The beautifully designed set mirrors everything from a store
to a home to an office and to a desert.
Is that carpet? Is that
sand? Once again OCP has conceived a
creative yet practical use of this space.
Justice Jamal Jones is perfect as the young Gabriel, his
smile is fetching and his fear and anger are credibly portrayed. You truly feel for this character. We are anxious to see him in more
productions. Christine, played by Julie Fitzgerald Ryan, does an excellent job
of playing the divorced mother that raises these questions through the course
of the play. Her take on Christine is
strong. Victoria Luther is very good at
being a confused, bratty, self-absorbed teenager that learns life lessons very
well. Anthony Holmes as Gabriel’s
Sudanese friend shows us a powerful performance as a strong, somewhat disturbed,
passionate man. Rusheaá Smith-Turner
gives us a bright spot in a play that is wracked with true emotion. Her portrayal of an all knowing, manipulative
yet in-your-face social worker is very convincing. Mark Kocsis, as Michael Dolan, also gave us
an honest performance as a frustrated social worker that sees the futility of
continuing this work.
We highly recommend Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods to those who love a thought provoking
presentation and live to challenge themselves.
