Coalhouse ahead of his time

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Jerold E. Solomon, who portrays Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Diamond Head Theatre's "Ragtime," understudied the role in a national tour and first played it at a theater in Gainsville, outside Atlanta.

"He's a very fun guy, very charming, at least when we first meet him," said Solomon. "He is the type of black man who was before his time and thinking, not that he feels he's above the station, but deserves and expects to have a certain air. His nature is to feel equal (not discriminated against), and as events unfold, he is brought into the knowledge, so to speak, of the reality of not really being treated the same."

The inequities surround an instance when Coalhouse's car is destroyed and he proceeds to right the wrong, like any citizen would, only to be turned away by lawyers because of his race. When told by police "this is just the way it is, so go away, he doesn't want to go away." For Coalhouse, the car is a metaphor for a better life."

Solomon has played various roles in the show, with which he has logged 250 performances. "There's always something new to be explored," he said.

Solomon, whose roots are in Springfield, Va., wound up in theater by accident. "In high school, I stayed after school to play basketball, but the gym was closed. But a choir class was nearby, and with friends auditioning, I did, too," he said. "I sang the 'Star-Spangled Banner' a cappella, and I guess I impressed somebody. I was a cut-up in class, who enjoyed the center of attention, so I suppose I was hoping to be a potential star."

He had considered basketball, because his doctor had told him he'd be a towering 6-6. "I was 5-11 when I stopped growing," said Solomon. "So I never did try out for basketball. I could not be a Michael Jordan; heck, in 200 tries, I couldn't do a slam-dunk."