A Richly Rewarding “Where the Mountain Meets the Sea” (Review)

metroweekly.com:

Where the Mountain Meets the Sea.In the D.C. premiere production of Jeff Augustin’s personal tale of a father and son who traverse great distances and differences trying to reconnect, Secka teams with singer-musician Rob Morrison to provide live music and score supporting the drama.Robert Cornelius, as dad Jean, and Isaac “Deacon Izzy” Bell, as son Jonah, carry the narrative, taking turns telling respective sides of their family’s life story.The account spun by Haitian immigrant Jean might be a mix of memories that happened and memories he wishes had happened, he admits.

Played by Cornelius as a charmer with a million-dollar smile, Jean recounts his days in Jacmel, where he taught elementary school, and dreamed of a life in the States, with his lovely lady friend Emile at his side.As far as his son Jonah is concerned, Jean, who left Haiti by boat to Miami in 1978, never dreamt he’d have a gay theater artist son, but that’s how things turned out.

Now, Jonah’s a Ph.D. candidate in Linguistics living in L.A., involved in a complicated relationship with Carl, whom he describes as a smart, dreamy, married, ginger-haired novelist with eyes of a striking blue that reminds him of the ocean in Haiti.Jonah also laments that because of his sexuality, he and his father grew apart.

His dad died without knowing him fully, or knowing about details of his life like Carl.So, in an effort to feel closer to someone he can no longer be closer to, Jonah makes a cross-country trek back to Miami to pick up his dad’s remains and return them to Haiti.