Theater reviewer Mike Logothetis grew up in North Wilmington, performing in school and local theater productions. He lives in Newark, but you can find him wherever the arts are good.
Delaware Theatre Company (DTC) is proud to present the World Premiere musical The Chequerboard Watch in its home on the Wilmington Riverfront. A quick primer: “Chequerboard Watch” was a 19th Century term for a mixed-race sailing crew often made up of British, Irish, African, Caribbean, and Spanish sailors. This particular “Chequerboard Watch” features original music alongside traditional shanties and naval work songs.
DTC’s Producing Artistic Director and show co-creator Mimi Warnick had an epiphany in the Fall of 2020 and said: “Let’s create [a] sea shanty musical!” She added, “The sea shanty…[is] a work song for all people.”
DTC's World Premiere of The Chequerboard Watch. Photo by Matt Urban.
From November 2020 to January 2024 the creative team of Jack Denman, Eyakeno Ekpo, Selena Seballo, and Warnick developed the idea, story, and script. The book and lyrics are credited to Seballo while Denman composed and arranged the music. After much refinement, they are now ready to bring The Chequerboard Watch from page to (our local) stage.
Most of the action takes place at sea where usual social constructs and rules are blurred. What sometimes can be seen as weaknesses on land are more often strengths at sea. An expected smooth voyage to South Australia quickly goes cockeyed due to the captain’s orders going against the natural rhythms of the sea and, ultimately, the well-being and safety of his crew.
The show’s website (www.chequerboardwatchmusical.com) summarizes the plot thusly: Set against the stirring soundscape of sea shanties, The Chequerboard Watch tells the tale of a crew of sailors on a challenging voyage aboard the 19th century clipper ship, the Blue Jacket. At its heart, it is a story about unlikely friendships forged between mariners from different nationalities, races, and walks of life. Despite the divides of class and race that separate them on land, their shared voyage erodes barriers as they depend on camaraderie to endure harsh conditions at sea. As the crew’s Captain wrestles to uphold maritime traditions against changing tides, he struggles to maintain his bond with his forward-thinking First Mate who eyes the future promise of steamships. Meanwhile, a young privileged landlubber, banished from home, finds guidance and kinship with a sailor ostracized by society. When the sailors reach their destination, they find themselves transformed by their odyssey, minds opened by their shared humanity. Blurring harsh class, racial, and gender divides, The Chequerboard Watch celebrates the culture of seafaring life that united motley crews in solidarity and sacrifice. It also examines the universal struggles to find human connection and dignity.
The excellent cast features Mark Aldrich (Billy), Marcus A. Brooks (Ansel), Will Stephan Connell (Giuseppe), Tom Geiger (James Farrell), Cullen Hussey (Bosun), Philipe Jean-Louis (Enoch), Beatrice Owens (Mister Kit), Jordan Michael Owens (Soloman), Nichalas L. Parker (Francis), Eric Peters (Philip), and Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton (Captain Edwards).
Captain Edwards is a towering figure who commands fealty from his crew, but withholds important information from them. As his plans disintegrate in real time, he lashes out in forms of intimidation and blackmail. His line, “No curse will rival my rage,” landed sharply.
Ship “Shantyist” Billy has a romantic view of the sailing the high seas. His sentiments like “There’s nothing a shanty can’t set right” and “The secret of the sea is the song” [paraphrase] keep morale bright when situations darken the voyage.
The off-stage musicians kept the beat and kept the show’s momentum moving forward, but sometimes overwhelmed the on-stage dialog. The best songs have Afro-Cuban rhythms with foot-tapping dance accompaniment. Examples of these are “Hold di Faith, Hold di Line” and “Congo River / Wana No Ufok Mfo / John Canoe.” Ensemble song “John’s a Dilly Dally” is another strong number.
Sea shanties don’t have the same structures as traditional musical numbers. This is a plus for this show in that the audience can’t rely on an accepted format. This keeps the viewer/listener focused on the lyrics and delivery. One minor effect of this, however, is that the nature of the songs makes some scene transitions uneven.
Krista Franco’s set is a wonder of planking and rigging. When an epic storm besets the Blue Jacket, the effects made it feel like we were all being tossed and turned by powerful winds and waves. After the ship and her crew emerge mostly intact, the musical finale got the audience clapping along and we all seemed to be “Among Brothers.”
Warnick – also the production’s director – believes that Wilmington offers a lot for productions with an eye on a Broadway run, including its experience in premiering new works and its proximity to New York City, with its legions of actors and technical experts.
The Chequerboard Watch wraps up its Wilmington run on Sunday May 3. Showtimes are Wednesdays (2:00pm), Thursdays and Fridays (7:00pm), Saturdays (2 & 7:30pm), and Sundays (2:00pm). Ticket prices start at $39 and discounts are available.
The play is roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes long with one 15-minute intermission. Join DTC for Viewpoints every Wednesday starting 45 minutes before the start of the show. Talkbacks – Q&As with the creative team – occur Thursdays after the final curtain. Call 302.594.1100 or visit delawaretheatre.org to purchase tickets or for performance information.
Delaware Theatre Company is located at 200 Water Street on the waterfront in Wilmington.
Remember: “No Man is Greater Than the Sea.”