Repertory Theater presents Wine
by Evelyn Cruse
Despite the severity of the weather
the Albina Women’s League lights
were burning after regular office
hours. Six people were seated around
a table in the outer room chatting
about the cold and if it would deter
the leading lady’ s arrival. A ll but one
were familiar with the unpredictable
weather outside and two o f the cast
took this time to acquaint her to the
changeable attitudes o f Portland
skies. They were waiting for Tommy
or Deborah Hicks; Tommy being her
name in the play. She arrives, with
accompaniment, smiling and ja b
bering excuses which included the
problems o f finding sitters and of
course, how cold it was outside. Old-
tim er; played by O tto Rutherford
grunts a little. “ We’re all here. We
can begin.” The directoress motions
everyone to the small auditorium and
they begin.
The Black Repertory Theater is in
rehearsal, creating “ Wine In The
Wilderness.” A ll the cast are local
residents who are not unfam iliar
with the first few weeks o f rehear
sals. P ortland Black Repertory
Theater (PBRT) has brought to the
stage such plays as “ Five on the
Black Hand Side,” “ River Niger,”
“ Stardust,” Raisin in the Sun” and
now, “ Wine In The Wilderness.”
“ Wine In The Wilderness” is a one-
act comedy-drama written by Black
playw right Alice Childress (C h ill-
dress). The small cast o f five
features: Otto Rutherford, Deborah
Hicks, A1 Jamison, Venessa Jobe
and Marvin Johnson. The play was
first presented by television station
WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts,
on March 4, 1969, as the first play in
a series “ On Being Black” under a
Ford Foundation Grant.
The reading goes on. O ldtim er
(Otto Rutherford) is obviously best
at his lines. Then — he was a mem
ber o f the Portland Civic Theater
cast in its early days from 1952-1960.
One thing is very different now, he is
not a lone Black actor in a cast who’s
repertoire has all but nil parts for ac
tors o f color.
As they read through parts, the ac
tors seem to become the characters.
The ages are right. The time in which
the play is set (early 60’s Harlem,
New York) can be remembered by
the actors themselves. The reading
goes well and A1 Jamison seems per
fect as Bill Jameson, an artist who is
completing a triptych (trip-tick). A
BRAD SANDERS
E /M a iit/w ti Guide,
by Alien Jones
Brad Sanders, a 28-year-old Black stand-up comedian, had no problem iden
tifying with the character he portrays in Hanna-Barbera's “ The Roast,” an
hour-long comedy special airing on NBC-TV. at 8:00 p.m., Thursday. January
25 tn.
He portrays Ghetto Man, the first Black superhero, a role especially created
for him by the show's writers. Mike Marmer and Peter Gallay.
The promising and struggling young satirist, who usually writes his own
materia], is teamed with a number o f established actors and comedians in what
producer-director William Carruthers contends w ill be television’s first fantasy
roast in which famous comic book superheroes are roasted by infamous comic
book villains.
Having spent his childhood growing up in a government housing project in
Chicago s westside, Sanders has been earning a living as a stand-up comic since
he was nineteen years old. “ I didn’ t earn enough to spoil me. but I did make
enough to prove to myself that I could eke-out a living making people laugh.”
Before moving to Hollywood two years ago, he had spent most o f his career
working the predominately Black "smokehole circuit” o f the night-clubs in
Chicago's Southside.
They were the kind o f clubs where you had to step over the crap game to get
to the bar,” recalls Sanders, "Y ou knew you were bombing out when they start
ed playing the juke box in the middle o f your routine.”
In Chicago, the Columbia College graduate supplemented his income selling
shoes, hardware and life insurance. “ Finally, I had to decide what to’ do with
my life, muses Sanders. “ Should 1 become a successful businessman with
flashy wheels, tailored threads and plush pad? Or should I keep struggling as
Mister Funny?"
Comedy won out and Sanders, a bachelor, moved to California to establish
his own ghetto in Hollywood.
The City o f Portland/Multnomah
Although the funny business is rapidly improving for Brad, he has not yet
County Area Agency on Aging is
made millionaire status. He lives in a small, one-room apartment across the
sponsoring Legislative tra in in g
street from the Hollywood Ccmetary, still uses his thumb for transportation,
workshops in four geographic areas
and occasionally reverts to his “ survival k it,” a shelf stocked with the
o f the City/C ounty during the mon-
nutritional necessities to sustain life — bread, peanut butter, jelly, beans and
o f January. Each o f these workshops
rice.
w ill have the legislators from that
But good things are happening. Besides the Hanna-Barbera comedy special,
area participating as trainers.
which features him along with Batman (Adam West), Robin (Burt Ward),
Senior citizens interested in atten-
Retired Man (W illiam Schallert) and a number o f well-known villains, he’ s had
ing should call 248-4752.
several national TV breaks. He’ s doing voice-over commercials and has per
The workshops w ill feature
formed in a variety o f night-clubs.
training as well as intense question
“ Humor has no race distinction.” observes Sanders, whose night-club
and answer periods which will allow
audiences range from Black to white. " I f your material’s funny, it ’ s going to be
Seniors direct information from elec-
funny. I f it ’s not, forget it.”
triptych is three paintings on one
subject, and B ill’ s subject is Black
W om anhood. A l Jamison is no
stranger to theater. He is the founder
o f the Kansas City Black Contemp
orary Players and he directed the
company for four years. His outburst
of laughter after Deborah Hicks so apt
ly reads one o f Tommy’ s lines direct
ed toward Oldtimer, seems to reflect
his inner thoughts; that not only are
Ms. Childress’ characters alive in
theater, but Deborah and Otto know
a Tommy and an Oldtimer who exist
in real life.
Ms. Deborah H icks (T om m y)
made her theater debut in the PSU
Black Cultural Affairs production o f
“ A Raisin In The Sun” . Ms. Hicks is
a professional model.
Cynthia played by Ms. Vanessa
Jobe is new in Portland, from Nash
ville, Tennessee. She plays the guitar,
piano and is a violinist w ith the
String Ensemble Quartet. Ms. Jobe
studied Speech and Drama at Ten
nessee State University where she
appeared in “ Up the Down Stair
case.”
M arvin Johnson (Sonny-M an)
born in Detroit, Michigan, has lived
in Portland for fifteen years. He at
tended G rant H igh School and
studied Business Adm inistration at
the University o f Oregon. He is just
beginning to explore his creative
talents; this is his first production.
Mr. Johnson finds theater a personal
chall ge.
“ W ine In The W ilderness” is
produced and directed by Portland
actress/director, Rosemary Allen.
Ms. Allen has nurtured the concept
o f bringing together the Portland
Black Repertory Theater since
producing and directing “ Five On
The Black Hand Side” at Portland
State University through the Black
Cultural A ffairs Board. Presenting
plays o f “ Wine In The Wilderness”
caliber is not new to Ms. Allen. Cold
weather or not the Portland Black
Repertory Theater’s presentation o f
A lice C hildress’ “ W ine In The
Wilderness” w ill be worth seeing.
The performances w ill be present
ed January 26th through February
10th at 1708 N.E. Alberta, 8:30 p.m.
on Friday and Saturday’ s at the
Royal Esquire Club. Tickets can be
purchased in advance at the Albina
Women’s League and at the door for
$2, $3.50, and $5.00. Seating is
lim ite d , and reservations can be
made at 281-0457.
JOB FINDER
HELP WANTED
THE PORTLAND HILTON
HOTEL IS HIRING
HOUSEKEEPING
EMPLOYEES
Will train as Room A t
tendants. Must be 18 or
over and available to
work weekends.
Short or full shifts avail
able. Ideal fo r house
w ife,
m others
and
students.
lLDERNEtt
D IR E C T E D B V P O S E M A R Y A L L E f ^ P
... I
BEEN TOO DAMN 6 E N E R 0 U S \ 7
An Equal Opportunity
Employer
CITY OF PORTLAND
ELECTRICIAN
»20.862
Paid vacation, sick leave,
health and dental insur
ance covers dependents
too. Requires an Oregon
G eneral J o u rn e y m a n
Electrician's License.
APPLY
Portland Civil Service
Board
510 S.W. Montgomery St.
Portland, OR. 97201
OPEN CONTINUOUS
A n Equal Opportunity
Employer
Extra income guaranteed
stuffing envelopes. Send
stamped addressed en
velope fo r inform ation
to: Powers Publications,
Dept. PO, 1320 S.E.
158th, Portland, OR
97233.
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ed o ffic ia ls
and com m unity
organizers on how to not only follow
legislation but also how to lobby ef
fectively on their own behalf.
3
Curley Massey, Sr. died at the
University o f Oregon Health Sciences
Center Hospital on January 7th. He
was born in Point, Texas on Novem
ber 27, 1912.
He had lived in Portland since
1944 and retired in 1974 after eight
years employment as a draftsman for
the Bonneville Power Adm inistra
tion.
He operated a grocery business in
Portland for twenty years.
Survivors include his wife, Mary J.
Massey, and six children — Hazel
Sibley, Curley, Jr., Helen Bennett,
and Jimmy L. of Portland; Joe L. o f
Vancouver and Donnie o f Seattle.
Also, two sisters — Ernestine Ivory
o f Portland and Althea Riley o f
Palm Springs, California — nineteen
grandchildren, 25 great grandchild
ren.
The funeral was held at M t.
Calvery Church o f God in Christ on
January 12th, with burial at Rose
City Cemetery. Colonial Mortuary
officiated.
Ushers meet
The Union Ushers o f Portland will
have a call meeting on Sunday,
January 21st, 4:00 p.m. at Van
couver Avenue First Baptist Church,
3138 N. Vancouver. A ll U nion
Ushers are asked to please attend.
HUGHES MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
REV A U S T IN V. RAY, M INISTER
111 N.E. FAILING
Dial-A Prayer 284 0684
Worship 11 00 a m .
Church School 9:45 a m .
Office 281 2332
Specializing In
Individual • M arriage and Fam ily • Group Therapy
'The C hu rch W h ara N o S tran g er Feels S trangs'*
NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
REVEREND A. BERNARD DEVERS, PASTOR
THE CHURCH DESIGNED TO MEET YOUR NEED
PRISAT UAN26** FEB IO '7 9
ROYAL ESQUIRE CLUS 1708 NE ALBERTA
0 : 3 0 P H I ‘ 2 ’3 ’ ° Ç *5 at the door
A t P&M ßW H Of THEPM M r/srSPiM SEM Ci
SPOHSQEE? Sr ALÙHA WüMEHÏ LEAbGE
WOODLAND PARK
MENTAL HEALTH
CENTER
1400 S.E. Umatilla
Portland, OR. 97202
234-5353 ext. 366
Equal Opportunity
Employer
We encourage minority
applicants
ADMINISTRATIVE
SECRETARY
$945 per month, 4 month
tem porary position, 1
year office experience in
volving coordination of
multi-faceted work load.
Ability to type 50 wpm
accurately, a bility to
record and edit meeting
m inutes, w ork under
pressure with minimum
supervision, deal effec
tively with public and co
workers, knowledge of
CETA helpful, m ainte
nance and retrieval of
files, phones. Need not
be CETA eligible. Must
be available for personal
interview . REFER TO
J O B 4 A D -3 8 . C lo se s
1/25/79, 5 pm. Resumes
to M ult-W ash CETA
Consortium, 806 S.W.
Broadway, Suite 325,
Portland, OR. 97205.
A n Equal Opportunity
Employer
An Equal Opportunity/
Affirm ative Action
Employer
TRAFFIC ENGINEER
Position w ith national
engineering firm requires
a minimum of two years
experience in street de
sign, signal design (solid
state), master systems
(solid state), and traffic
studies. Experience in
airport runw ay/taxiw ay
design, transportatio n
planning, traffic assign
m ent, and im pact as
sessments is desirable
also. Send resumes to:
S T R A A M E n ginee rs,
Inc., 5505 S.E. Milwau
kie Ave., Portland, OR
97202.
An Equal O pportunity/
A ffirm ative Action
Employer
EXECUTIVE SEDAN
1977 Olds Regency. *
door. Black. Every op
tio n . Leather. A stro
roof. A M /FM cassette
Mags. Climate control
All power. $7,850. 297
4507. Monday-Friday, 8-
5.
//« C H U R C H ?
C
FRIED
V . CHICKEN
F
SUPER BOW L
S P E C IA L
$1 Off
w ith coupon on purchase
o f a 10-piece F A M IL Y or a 15-piece
SUPER F A M IL Y order.
T ry our Big Pieces!
Coupon offer expiree J u . 29. 1979
5721 N .E . Union Avenue
188th A S E. Stark
122nd 4 S.E. Powell
I
k.
Obituary
PORTLAND BLACK REPERTORY THEATRE „rtP
» V A L IC E C H IL D R E S S
DRAFTING
TECHNICIAN/CIVIL
Experience in prepara
tion of plans for sewers,
w ater systems, water
and sewage treatm ent
plants, and pum ping
UNIT SECRETARY
Full-time, evening posi stations. Excellent fringe
benefits. Salary depends
tion now available. Back
on
qualifications. Send
ground
in
hospital
resumes to: STRAAM
routines and previous
u n it secretary/ ward Engineers, In c., 5505
c le r k
e x p e r ie n c e S.E. M ilw aukie A ve.,
Portland, 97202.
preferred.
Apply at Portland Hilton
Hotel Personnel Office
from 10:30 to noon
weekdays, 921 S.W. 6th
Ave., Portland, OR.
Seniors study Legislature
The North District meeting w ill be
held on January 27th at the
Memorial Coliseum Panel members
w ill be: Representatives Jim Chrest,
Howard Cherry, George Starr, and
Jane Cease; and Senator Frank
Roberts. Registration beings at 9:00
and the workshops run from 9:30 un
til noon.
REGISTERED NURSE
Full-time position avail
able
at
private
psychiatric hospital for
Staff Nurse on the nighi
shift.
Sunday School
9:30a m.
Morning Worship
Evening Service 2nd, 4th and
5th Sundays
Communion 1st Sunday
W e d - Family Prayer Meeting
and Bible Study
Friday — Brotherhood
Fellowship Service with
Morning Star 3rd Sunday
10:30a.m
7:00p.m .
5:00 p.m.
7 :3 0 p m .
?:00p.m
Preyer and Pastor Phon« 281 6 4 /6
Church Phons: 281-0163
3725 N Gantenbein Avenue, Portland, Oragon1
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ST. ANDREWS CATHOLIC CHURCH
806 N.E. Alberta Street
Reverend Bertram Griffin, Pastor
281-4429
Masses:
S :00p.m . V ig il — S atu rd ay
10:00 a.m . C ho ir — Sunday
12:00p .m . Folk — S unday
ST. ANDREW COMMUNITY SCHOOL
^919 W.F. 9th A VS.
N o r lu K a liy , P rincipal
*>Qe icon
G ra d .« , thro® ^ h ,
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