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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 1988)
-, I» 4 * V > , s «’»*'• Ml««*-» ,. w » < • • • « « »-w» « » « « * ■» » « w « ,*-r í^TíPage 4, Portland Observer. June 8, 1988 “ New Film BROAD WAY BOUND REPORT — Rage, heard it here first in the Broadway Bound Report. My friend and actor, Richard IIA Gant, plays the barber in "West Memphis Mojo," and his teen-age shoeshine boy (Tico Wells) write songs, which they hope to sell with the help of a friend, who is a guitarist and singer (Tucker Smallwood). According to the New Times review, "emotionally, the characters have something in common with others in dramatic literature — most notably those in Lonnie Elder 3d’s "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men," portraying people whose aspirations have been thwarted by frustration in this society. Mr. Gant is amply expres By Garland Thompson sive of the pent-up rage of an Ar ptly, rage, racism, rhythm- my veteran who has never had a and-blues are the themes of chance to assert his individuality in peacetime, in White America." Martin Jones' new play, "West The most affecting perfor Memphis Mojo," directed by Rick Khan. A Crossroads Theater mance, states the Times, is given production presented by the by Mr. Wells as the teen-ager. Trusting almost to point of self- Negro Ensemble Company in New York City. Douglas Turner injury, he is indebted to the barber Ward, Co-founder and president and as his act of friendship, he carries him along on a dream of of the NEC, which is one of the collaboration. Both of the older world's most respected Black men are wise to identify the theatre companies (at Theater young man's budding talent and Four, 424 West 55th Street, New to be amused by his enthusiasm, York). The play comes to New York via the Crossroads Theater a fact that provides the play with Company in New Brunswick, N.J., much of its humor. the company that introduced “ Ceremonies,” which first ran George C. W olfe's wild new play, here in Portland, last season (1987) at the Interstate Firehouse "Colored Museum,” that I saw Cultural Center, also spoke of two years ago at Joseph Papp’s Public Theatre in New York (It is “ the prejudice endemic to the scheduled to play in Portland, this society of the day, the 1950’s, not yet the time for a large-scale coming season at the IFCC, in crossover of rhythm-and-blues. January). Remember that you With the emergence of Elvis A Epic Records is proud to an nounce the release of one of the year's most anticipated record ings: Stronger Than Pride, the in comparable new album by Sade, featuring "Paradise." the first hit single. Stronger Than Pride is the long- awaited successor to Sade's m ulti-P latinum 1985 release, Promise. The combined sales of Promise — and Sade's 1984 debut. Diamond Life— now total nearly five million in the U.S. alone. Worldwide, Sade has sold more than 20 m illion albums and singles :.S § * > I J:' ’ *• 4 • X X X X •> ’ '• \ ' K .•s SADE ■; V. \ •. ; - Racism—Rhythm/Blues Presley, however, more Black songwriters began thinking about the possibilities of having a broad, popular White and Black appeal. This is the dream in "Memphis," scene of Jones' play, set in West Memphis, Ark., a first, I’m sure without a doubt! This same rights issue is one of the themes of August Wilson's play, “ Ma R a in e y ’ s B la ck Bottom," that was presented last season at the Winningstad Thea tre of the Performing Arts Center of Portland by the Storefront Theatre. In Mr. Jones' play, a winner of the Foundation of the Dramatists Guild/CBS New Plays Program, depressed West Memphis is just across the river from the pros perous musical city of Memphis, and it is a wide symbolic dis tance. It was at a time when if Blacks could sell their songs, they have to forego authorship and royalties. The Times calls, "West Memphis Mojo,” an articu late period piece with a sense of character and a sense of history. Now from "the I’ll bet ya don’t know,” dept. — Anthony Arm strong and Rick Jones, two strong Portland actors, are contin uing to perform their production of the hit South African play, "Woza Albert,” in touring to several Oregon cities, such as Corvallis. Oregon. The Storefront Theatre of Portland, presented the production successfully at the Performing Arts Center of Portland, this 1988 season. Nina Lowry, Director of Educa tion Activities at Portland State University, will soon announce PSU’s Summer '88 Program, the first Black Theatre Festival, with the opening of Langston Hughes' musical, “ Simply Heavenly,” Aug ust 18, 1988, 7:30 p.m., at Lincoln Hall Theatre, on Broadway, in Portland for the first time. Now that show has some real “ blues” tunes that haven't been heard on the West Coast in thirty years (since 1958). I ought to know, I was in the February, 1958 H o lly w o o d p r o d u c tio n of “ Simply,” in California, as a teen ager, like the character in “ West Memphis Blues,” I was looking to “ m ake it” In b ig tim e showbusiness in America. Yes, a view of Black life In the 50’s: its hope, pain and dreams. Is this the future? Stay tune, musical theatre lovers, for love is "Simply Heaven ly!” And from “ the long overdue thanks” dept. — I recall a number of years ago, “ Gimme a Break," TV Star and singer, Nell Carter, while she was performing in the original 1976 Broadway produc tion of “ Ain’t Misbehavin’,” is partly responsible with the cast, for the RCA Record Company pre senting Black Theatre’s Alliance, with checks of $5,000 each, total ly $10,000, when the cast album was released. Now that’s “ putting ya money where ya mouth is, Black Theatre fans, so support Black Theatre on your local stage, like our good sister, Nell Carter, and "Give us a break!” A good idea is to list your favorite theatre, such as IFCC of Portland, in your Oregon State tax return for sup port. T he R oyal E squire C lub Is Having It’s First Annual Member Appreciation Party June 19, 1988 7 P.M. - Until ???? >.*• -Invitation Only- 1708 N.E. Albert 287-5145 L>L Don’t Forget Clarence Carter in Concert June 22nd <& 23rd he Amistad Incident, an 1839 mutiny on the high seas, staged by Africans kidnapped to slavery will be the focus of a major motion picture. The inci dent resulted in international in trigue, increased conflict be tween pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces in the United States, and a precedent-setting Supreme Court decision. The film project was an nounced at a press conference at the National Press Club in Wash ington, D.C. Prize-winning film m aker St. Clair Bourne, who will direct the feature film, said that production will begin in the spring, 1989. He was joined at the press confer ence by his collaborators in this unique feature film venture, in cluding screen writer Lou Potter and Congressman Michael Espy of Mississippi, where the bulk of the production will take place. Representatives from the Na tional Endowment for the Human ities, whose initial grant helped launch the project, also attended. Professor Ronald Bailey, Director of Afro-American Studies at the University of Mississippi, initiated the project through extensive original research, planning, and organizing project staff and con sultants. Maida Morgan, Director of the Mississippi Film Commis sion, confirmed that the Commis sion will provide significant as sistance to the production. Bourne said that the produc tion, which will be budgeted around $4,000,000, will film all its exterior scenes in Mississippi which can provide the architec ture of the period and the coast line to represent the Caribbean where the mutiny took place. No decision has been made as to where the studio shooting will take place. Bourne also refused to com- T 5 5 ment on casting though he indi cated that major stars w ill be con sidered for the principal roles. The Amistad incident is con sidered the most important court case involving slavery with the ex ception of the landmark Dree Scott case. It began in Sierra Leone in 1839 when 53 men women and children were kid napped into slavery by a Portu guese ship and transported tc Havana for sale. They were bought by the owners of “ Li Amistad" which means “ Friend ship” in Spanish, who shlppec them to another port in Cuba. En route, the mutiny occurred The Africans, led by the legendary Cinque, took over the ship, killing all the crew except for two mer who were spared In order that they might sail the ship back tc in Africa. The Spaniards deceived their captors, sailing into the sun as ordered by day, but heading north and west at night. A prolonged journey ended off the coast of Long Island on August 26, 1839, where the Amistad was spotted and seized by a U.S. Navy brig and all aboard were taken to New Lon don, Connecticut. The Africans were arrested and charged with murder and mutiny and taken to New Haven for trial. The case became a cause cele'bre for both sides of the slavery controversy then raging in the U.S. Extensive legal battles followed. Eventually, John Quincy Adams, former President and then Congressman, represented the Africans in court. In the back ground, relations between Spain and the U.S. grew sensitive as the state government, through be hind-the-scenes and often illegal intrigue, tried to settle the affair to Spain's satisfaction. On February 24, 1841, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Africans, who were freed and returned to their homeland. Famous Face Nell Carter • .7 « ♦* »; HUNGRY? 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