September 1, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 5
xxxxzx
ENTERTAINMENT
BOUND
Ï Ï F P Ü R T 1X111
by Garland Lee Thompson
LANGSTON HUGHES MUSICAL IS
“ HEAVENLY,” SAYS LEADING
PRESS CRITIC
Yes, well, hello back, "Hicksv­
ille !” Theater reviewer Bob Hicks
of the Oregonian, said in his
Saturday, Aug. 27 review of the
Langston Hughes/David Martin
musical, “ Simply Heavenly,” (just
opened Thursday, Aug. 25 to
Sept. 11,) “ In a town addicted* to
revivals of musical-comedy chest­
nuts, here’s a revival of one you’ve
probably never heard o f— and it’s
worth getting to know. (He, no
doubt never heard about it before,
either).
“ Poet Langston Hughes’ 1957
show ‘Simply Heavenly,’ Hicks
wrote “ is standard boy-meets-
loses-and-w ins g irl* . But it
generates a genuine joy in
life — in this case, life in Harlem
(New York City) at a cozy neigh­
borhood bar called Paddy’s.” (I’m
certain he has never experienced
such a place in his life-style).
EXCITING NEW TALENT
DEBUTS IN SHOW
"Director Garland Lee Thomp­
son has assembled some fine tal­
ent for this all-black show, which
shines through some ragged
staging. The show is choppy and
under-rehearsed and has actors
of
v a ria b le
ta le n t
and
experience.” (Are these other
code-words fo r,... well, it is black,
local and sub-standard to Hicks’
experience in this town, or what?)
“ But when it’s good — which is
a lot of the time — it sizzles, cat­
ching the syncopation’s and hu­
mor of Hughes’ tall tale most win-
ningly,” he continues (So it does
work, right, Major Bob?)
“ Yes, ‘Simply Heavenly,’ is the
story of one Jesse B. Semple
(Neal Thomas, playing his first ti­
tle leading role in a classic musi­
cal), a happy-go-lucky everyman
who has to get hold of his life
(Doesn’t everybody?) and take
care of some business — most
seriously, scratch up enough
money to pay for a divorce from
his long-gone wife (Isabel) —
before he can settle down with
his sweet, pure sweetheart, Joyce
(played by Denise Williams)."
Í8B m S¿B>TÍ6®- s S
S
Mr. Hicks continues: “ We (As
in ‘the royal we’) can be forgiven
for wishing Semple would stick to
his low-down w ays” (Oops,
another code-word?), which seem
a lot more fun and rewarding (To
whom and what you mean, Key-
mo-saab-be?’): So, you think the
character, ‘Joyce,’ seems to have
all the life starched out of her”
(Even though she tells ‘Simple’
that he’s “ The gate-keeper of her
castle — which is in her heart.
Their bricks are made out of love
and their foundations are strong.
No waves is gonna beat them
down. No wind (Or bleeding-heart-
liberal critics) is gonna blow them
apart.
So, Hicks liked the character
“ Z a rita ,” the g o o d -tim e -g a l
(played by Jeanette Russell
Brown, in a sterling performance),
because she’s much more vib­
rant. Far from being stereotyped,
her story seems the most real and
poignant in the show (How many
sophisticated black New York
women have you known?).
“ True, Hughes does inject
some message into his easy, but
almost flippant book.” (It's far
from it). And it’s no surprise that
you like the line about blacks
“ cannot use race as an excuse
forever, and newspapers still treat
black culture as little more than
murder and drugs (Have you read
your newspaper lately, since
you’ve returned from your recent
honeymoon, to drug fever in
‘gangland,’ P. O.?).”
Hicks also thought ‘Simple’
“ has a very funny fantasy about
being America’s first black gener­
al, sending white Southern troops
to the front in World War III,”
(However unreal it must seem to
your ‘baby-boomer‘ mentality,
right?”
“ I do agree that our seasoned
veterans, Michael Holiday (Water­
melon Joe), Brenda P hillips
(Mamie) as a fruit vendor and his
reluctant lady; and Steve Lee
(Ananias Boyd) as Hughes' alter-
ego, are among the standouts in
the cast,” but Hicks left out,
among others, Paulette E. Davis
(Madame Butter, the voice of Aunt
Lucy and Mrs. Caddy), deserves
to be called “ the rookie of the
year,” in my book, for what she is
doing with this show is “ Simply
Heavenly,” along also, with Paul
Jones (Hopkins, the bartender)
“ Gimme-a-break, Master Bob ...
and the boys,” instead of * * “ the
W illies,” will you?
• Code word ■ A word used to convey hid­
den or subliminal meaning.
• • The Willies - A local theatre award for
best perform ances presented by a
Portland weekly newspaper.)
ì ^ X
s 3
4
Mu inn Huilisin I'lii sms
INTERMEDIATE THFATER
PORTLAND CENTER FOR
THE PERFORMING ARTS (PC PA)
Tickets:
H /J O C S a ^
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S T T = r?
Galleria Jean Machine & PCPA Box Office
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by Dante Che
“ Feeling It Jam ’88, an event that will be forthcoming
Labor Day weekend, is a free opportunity to check-out
some of Portland’s hottest local funk, R&B bands.
Produced by Eden Inc. in conjunction with Music
Millenium and Portland Music C~., ‘Feeling It Jam ’88’
is a community-oriented affair geared to the apprecia­
tion of having a good time without the element of
drugs or alcohol.
A family event to be held September 3, at Cathedral
Park under the St. John’s bridge.
The day's format will include activities for children,
speakers and entertainment.
Among the speakers are KGW’s Sharon Mitchell; Ray
Leary, Youth Enhancement Program; Vedi Simington,
Anti-Gant Task Force; and Dr. Steven Bailey,
Naturopath and writer.
Musical entertainment will be provided by Shock,
Romeo, Cliche, Cover Boy and Rapper’s Hard Cold
Members.
Feeling It Jam ’88 producer Danny Bell also indicates
that involvement from corporations is being solicited
to address the needs of youth at-risk.
Further information may be obtained by calling
288-0033 or 283-5520.
P
6 Í
3041 N. Williams
284-7150
Feeling It, Jam ’88
shutting Arsenio
Hall UPlndeed,
Arsi
Fox may be considering legal ac­
tion to prevent former Late Shoe
star Arsenio Hall from hosting a
syndicated talk show in January.
Fox reportedly has a first-look
contract with Hall.
H ollyw ood “ Black Pack’ ’
member Keenen Ivory Wayans
makes his directorial debut in “ I'm
Gonna Git You Sucka,” a spoof
on every type action-packed blax-
ploitation film ever made. He was
inspired by the film “ Airplane,"
and the success of “ Hollywood
Shuffle,” a film he co-wrote. He
also produced and co-wrote Eddie
Murphy "Raw.” Said Wayans, who
by Lisa Collins
also stars in the film, "I grew up
rin c e ’ s new love under
watching all those blaxploitation,
wraps: Rumors are flying that
kung fu, and other wild action
Prince is in love, and while he's films of the 1970’s.” Other key
being secretive about the whole
cast memebers include Jim
affair, word is the lucky lady is an
Brown, Anne-Marie Johnson,
actress, who was recently a regu­
Dawnn Lew is and Kadeem
lar in a hit TV series. Meanwhile,
Hardison.
tickets to Prince’s concert in
Luther Vandross & Anita Baker
Madison Square Garden on Oct. 2
are teaming up for a 20-city tour
sold out in 48 minutes. With his
that opens in Landover, MD on
European tour winding down,
Sept. 30 and winds down mid-De­
he’s all set to open his first full-
cember in Detroit. Baker is devel­
scale U.S. tour in nearly five years
oping quite a reputation as a diva.
Sept. 14 in Minneapolis. His high-
She was all set to perform at Jack
energy tour, featuring Sheila E.,
the Rapper’s Family Affair in
won raves in Europe ... So where
Atlanta a week or so ago but pull­
then does Prince get the time to
ed out at the last minute. She did,
pen a rap tune for Chaka Khan.
however, make an appearance.
Well, he did, with the legendary
Other stars on hand for the 12th
Miles Davis coming to his aid on
annual meeting were New Edi­
trumpet. The tune, “ Sticky Wick­ tion, Bobby Brown, Al B. Sure,
ed,” will be featured on her up­ Keith Sweat, Vanessa Williams,
coming Warner Bros. LP, due to
and Miami Vice co-star Michael
be released this fall.
Phillip Thomas, who’s hoping to
Cosby hobnobbing in style: Bill
score big with his new Atlantic
Cosby is still vacationing with his
LP, titled “ Somebody.”
family on the French Riviera at
Diana Ross has fifth child:
the $1,000 a night Hotel Du Cap.
Superstar Diana Ross gave birth
And in good company, too. He to a baby boy, was the word from
and wife Camille were seen
her L.A. publicist. It’s just the se­
lunching with Frank Sinatra and
cond for the 44-year-old singer
Roger Moore (and their respective
and current husband, m u lti­
spouses). Additional reports have
millionaire Arne Naess.
the Cosby's spending time with
Whatever happened to Fred
Prince Rainier of Monaco.
Williamson? Former pro-football
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speaks too player Fred Williamson made his
soon: When 41-year old Lakers
fHm debut in MASH and went on
captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar an­ to star in over a dozen blaxploita­
nounced he would pursue an act­ tion movies including “ Three The
ing career after this, his 20th and
Hard Way” and “ Black Caesar.”
final NBC season, he added that Today, he still has his P’ Boy Pro­
he had an option on the book ductions, but gets the bulk of his
‘Bloods’ (chronicling the impres­ w o rk in c o m m e rc ia ls and
sions of a Vietnam War corre­ filmwork overseas.
spondent) to produce as a feature
Lionel — A No Show: Superstar
film or TV special. But ‘Blood’s’
Lionel
Richie did not show at the
author Wallace Terry denies the
office
of
a deputy DA to discuss
report, stating he is negotiating
the
June
attack of his wife on
with several parties. He went on
Diane
Alexander.
Brenda Richie
to say Jabbar's claims on the pro­
(who
did
show)
was
warned to
perty were detrimental to those
steer
clear
of
Miss
Alexander
and,
negotiations ... Speaking of
while
it
was
recommended
that
negotiations, word is Fox Broad­
charges
not
be
pressed.
casting is seriously thinking of
SEPTEMBER I6. I ’ . 18
Cleo’s Cafe
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PEELING |T JAM
’Q8
CATHEDRAL PARK
Saturday, September 3rd • 1 p.m .-7 p.m.
A Drug Awareness Concert & Rally
A Family A ffa ir — Free A dm ission
CHILDREN’S GAMES AND PROGRAMS
★ SPEAKERS ★
Sharon Mitchell - K.G.W. Co-Anchor Woman
Ray Leary - Youth Enhancement
Vedi Simmington - Anti-Gang Task Force
Steven Bailey - Naturpath/Writer
★ Featuring The LIVE MUSIC of ★
Cover Boy
M m
Romeo
Cliche
With Cold Hard Members - Rap Group
Sponsored by: Eden, Inc. • Music Millenium &
Portland Music
Portland State University Presents
The Tragedy
Of Othello”
The I.F.C.C. is proud to
welcome an exciting production
of William Shakespeare’s Othello,
directed by Tom Laswell and co­
produced by Rick Jones and Joel
Morello. The Actor’s Co-operative,
made up of some of Portland’s
finest actors, expects this to be
the first of many experimental
works to be produced.
The cast of Othello will include
Rick Jones in the title role, Trisha
Todd as Desdemona, Joel Morello
as Iago, Sarah Lucht as Emilia,
Eric Johnson as Cassio, Enrique
M. Arias as Roderigo, Kamden
Sisco as Montano, Gretchen
Savage as Bianca, and Mark
Twohy as Lodovico.
This production will lend a
newperspective to the timeless
and universal themes of love,
jealousy and revenge, and will be
accompanied by an original score
written by John Mansfield.
at
A Musical by Langston Hughes
£
WHERE:
Interstate Firehouse
Cultural Center
5340 N. Interstate Ave.
Directed by Garland Lee Thompson
August 25 through September 11
WHEN:
Thursday - Friday - Saturday - 8 pm
September 16 - October 16
Friday, Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
FOR RESERVATIONS:
(503) 243-7930
TICKET PRICE:
$10.00
Group Rates Available
Sunday - 3 pm
r
Uncoln Hall Auditorium • S.W. Broadway a t Market Street
All Seats Reserved • Admission $12: General - $5: Senlors-Students
Special rates for groups available; 464-4440 • PSU Box O ffice
Presented by The Summer Proflram o f Educational Activities