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Septem ber 8, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 5
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ENTERTAINMENT
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BROADWAY
BOUND
hit their parents, even kill their
parents. This play may bring them
back to love, respect and pride in
family, and that pride is what can
help young people to resist drugs
and other self-destructive in­
fluences.” Write on!
BETRAYED
by Garland Lee Thompson
LOST “ RAISIN IN THE SUN,”
SCENES RESTORED IN NEW FILM
The word coming out of “ LA LA
Land" in California is that the
filming has just been completed
on the first production for next
season’s “ American Playhouse”
series on PBS, a new three-hour
version of Lorraine Hansberry’s
play “ A Raisin in the Sun,” to be
broadcast in January. My son,
Garland Jr., visited the “ closed
set,” and received a "warm hug
and hello” from producer Chez
Schutz before “ paid goofers” ask­
ed everybody to leave. The televi­
sion production, starring Danny
Glover, Esther Rolle and directed
by Bill Duke (who likes to be
mysterious), will include scenes
written by the late Ms. Hansberry
30 years ago but never seen in any
production of the play. I did the
West Coast production of the
play as an actor in Hollywood in
1961. That production starred
Juanita Moore.
When "A Raisin in the Sun,”
was first presented on Broadway
in 1959 starring Sidney Portier,
Diana Sands, Claudia McNeill
(“ Fences” and "Joe Turner’s
Come and Gone” on Broadway), it
won the New York Drama Critics
Circle Award as best play of the
year. Its portrait of the conflicts
within a black ghetto family in
Chicago contemplating a move
into an all-white neighborhood
stirred both black and white au­
diences. Under Director Richards’
careful eye and hand, the play had
been significantly abridged by the
playwright who, according to
sources close to the scene at the
tim e , was g iven “ s p e c ia l
assignments” as to just what
scenes to re-write or cut during
the rehearsal process in New
Haven, Conn., before the Broad­
way opening.
Lorraine Hansberry died of
cancer in 1965, and it was not un­
til the 25th anniversary produc­
tion of “ Raisin,” in 1986, first at
the Round-about Theatre in New
York and later at the Kennedy
Center in Washington, D.C., that
audiences saw some of the om it­
ted material in a major new pro­
duction of the play. But two
scenes will be seen for the first
time in the television version.
The original producer was
Robert Nemiroff who was married
to Ms. Hansberry at the time. He
is acting as executive producer of
the $1 million PBS film. He hopes
the production will succeed as a
film rather than as “ just a record
of the play,” although its budget
was very small by today’s Holly­
wood film standards. The play
was produced successfully as a
m usical on Broadway also,
several years ago, and made Deb­
bie Allen (later of "Fame TV” ) a
star.
Esther Rolle, who plays “ Mom­
ma Younger" in the this new film,
thinks the play speaks more to
people now than it did in 1959.
“ Today kids curse their parents,
A new film by director Costa-
Graves who made the movie “ Z” a
few years ago, opened in New
York this week and is quoted in
the New York Times as being “ in­
deed grim and unsettling,” and is
one I think should be worth
checking out.
When a widowed Midwestern
farmer named Gary Simmons
(Tom Berenger) falls in love with a
demure young newcomer named
Katie Phillips (Debra Winger), he
wants her to know everything
about his world. So he takes her
camping and hunting, but these
prove not to be ordinary recrea­
tional outings. The campsite is at
a white-supremacist outpost in
Montana where vacationers dress
in Ku Klux Kian robes and burn
crosses as they gather to sing
"Amazing Grace.” At the hunt,
which takes place at night and
employs vicious dogs and live
ammunition, the prey is a terrified
black man. Yes, perhaps this one
bears watching, my brothers and
sisters. Write on!
THE SECOND TIME AROUND
Ken Page was in California
when he was approached about
rejoining the original cast for a
Broadway revival of “ A in ’t
Misbehavin.” ’ His first reaction
was uncertainty — why take a
chance with something that had
been a great success 10 years
ago?
He then said that Nell Carter
(“ Gimme A Break” TV fame), who
was also in the original cast of the
show, invited him to dinner and
served paella and apple cobbler
and that was it. “ She got me at my
soft spot,” he said. That, he add­
ed jokingly, is why he’s back in
the show. If it ain’t on “ the Page,
it ain’t the state” of “ Ain’t
Misbehavin’.” Go for it, Ken?
Write on!
“ CHECKMATES” AND
BUPPIE LOVE
Ron Milner’s new Broadway
play “ Checkmates” opened at the
46th Street Theatre, Aug. 4, starr­
ing my old friends, Paul Winfield,
Ruby Dee, Denzel Washington
and newcomer, Marsha Jackson,
and directed by another friend of
mine, Woodie King Jr. (founder of
the New Federal Theatre in New
York and partly responsible for
my staying in New York during
the 70s and founding the Frank
Silvera Writers’ Workshop). The
play deals with, of all things,
Young Black Urban Professionals
(Buppies) trying “ to make sense
of marriages, when all the things
they thought kept them from hav­
ing a solid relationship have been
removed.”
Black playwright, Ron Milner,
author of "What the Wine Sellers
Buy,” and “ Who’s Got His Own,”
shifts from the militant focus of
the ’60s to the “ Me” generation
and the ’80s. It’s a great cast.
Write on, Ron!
ss
The Temptations’ Otis Williams
calls Patti LaBelle a liar? Read it for
yourself in the latest celebrity
kiss-and-tell—this one by Otis
Williams, one of the remaining
o r ig in a l T e m p ta tio n s . A p ­
propriately titled “ Temptations,”
W illia m s ta lk s a b o u t h is
numerous love affairs, including
one with Patti LaBelle, while
chronicling life with the cele­
brated group. However, by
Williams own admission, the
book is mild. Fact is, the crooner
was quoted as saying, “ I got
by Lisa Collins
enought dirt to fill another book,
all her Jackee: 227’s Jackee but I like sleeping at nights.”
Harry has taken to using just
Actor Howard Rollins pleaded in­
one name as of late, preferring nocent
to
to charges of possession
just be called “Jackee.” NBC is de­ of cocaine, driving while intox­
veloping a pilot for the one-name icated and speeding, but Rollins
actress to air during the 88-89 was not in the courtroom to make
television season. Word has it the plea. Instead, the judge allow­
Jackee was dating Blair Under­ ed the 37-year old actor’s attorney
wood, but she wasn’t with him the to make his plea. A trial date has
other night to pick up an award at
not been set.
the Annual Black Emmy Nomi­
Whoopi Goldberg will join Lily
nees Dinner. The affair, put on by Tomlin, Mario Thomas, and Kermit
a select group of successful U.S. the Frog in "Free To Be ... a
black businessmen on the eve of Family.” It’s the first variety
the televised award ceremonies,
special broadcast jointly in the
honors those blacks nominated
USA and Soviet Union. And
for Emmys, with beautifully carv­ speaking of the Soviet Union,
ed Tree-Of-Life award statues.
Quincy Jones just firmed a partner­
Among the nominees honored
ship deal with the Soviets with the
were veteran actresses Beah
first of at least three pictures to
Richards and Ruby Dee, Ray
be a film dramatizing the life of
Charles, Danny Glover (who
famed Russian writer Pushkin.
wasn’t on hand because he’s on
Michael Jackson to perform in
location filming a sequel to his
China with Bubbles at his side?
last box office smash ‘Lethal
While the Chinese government is
W eapon I I ’ , a c tre s s A lfre
more than entertaining the notion
Woodard, and actor Tim Reid.
of Michael Jackson performing in
Reid, who was moved by the af­
China (where 200,000-300,000
fair, noted “ you will always find
copies of “ Bad” have been sold),
black people of Frank’s Place
they may have trouble accomo­
tre a te d
lik e
la d ie s
and
dating him. Turns out the super-
gentlemen.” The night’s hosts
star has a list of demands —
were Madge Sinclair and Robert
including facilities and hardware
Guilliame, who’s wife Donna is
for a live international satellite
five months pregnant. (It will be
concert broadcast and allow­
the fourth child for Guilliame, who
ances for an entourage of 300, in­
is well into his 50’s). Others in at­
cluding his pet chimp Bubbles.
tendance were Jayne Kennedy
Lou Gossett hunt for mystery is
(who is almost back down to size
solved:
Production delays, due to
and is now spokeswoman for the
the
strike,
have hurt the start of
N a tional C o u n cil of Negro
the
all-new
ABC
Saturday Mystery
Women), Ros Cash, Yvonne
Movie
starring
Peter Falk, Burt
B ra th w a ite B u rke , D e n ise
Reynolds
and
Lou Gossett. A
Nicolas, Eric Laneuville, Bernie
rotating
adventure
series, each of
Casey and actress Lynn Whitfield,
the
three
will
alternate
shows,
who can’t wait to get back into
with
Gossett
starring
as
an an­
production next month on the
thropologist
hunting
for
mystery.
series “ Heartbeat.”
C
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_ Remember, Beauty Is Only Skin Deep! ■ .
miner’s yearn in to be with his
family after hearing the late night
whistle and rumble of the train
that took him away from his wife
and children. The vocalization
that musical instruments could
n o t s u p p ly , Mr. M a s e k e la
Miriam Makeba
improvised.
In an equally impressive set,
iriam Makeba and Hugh
Miss Makeba sang the lovely
Masekela are a formidable
ballad, “ Meet Me At The River,”
team both on the performing
which was written by her daugh­
stage and in the political arena.
ter on the occasion of her exile
They are once more touring the
from her native land.
United States after an absence of
The entire program was fast-
more than a decade. She became
paced and well-balanced with
personna non grata back in the
both traditional music and the
dark ages when American foreign
popular South African style of
policy was supportive of the
jazz. It was interesting to observe
South African apartheid effort.
that the band was augmented by
And even given the enlightened
several Black Americans who
attitude about apartheid and its
played with the same fervor and
intractable denial of basic human
dedication as the native musi­
rights, Americans once more
cians. This observation would
were almost denied the right to
seem to support the contention
witness this stellar artist in per­
that music is the universal lang­
formance. Only after intervention
uage that has kept Black people
of persons in very high places
united throughout the ages.
was she granted a visa at the 11 th
Miss Makeba has written an
hour of her departure.
autobiography about her ex­
It is very fitting that the tour
perience during the more than
should begin in Portland where
quarter century she has been ban­
she and the great Hugh Marseke-
ned from her native land. In it, she
la headline the Artquake Festival
talks about how all of her ener­
in performance at the Arlene
gies have been devoted to the-
Schnitzer Concert Hall.
struggle to free her homeland.
Miss Makeba's smooth black,
Later in a post-concert recep­
velvet voice, her elegant manners
tion at the Heathman Hotel adja­
and undying fight for freedom of
cent to the concert hall, Miss
her beloved Soweto and all the
Makeba spoke about the set of
other occupied territories of her
native land is an assuring com­ circumstances which led to the
denial of her permanent resi­
mentary to all Black people who
struggle for justice. Perhaps no dence status in the United States.
This act was unprecedented in-
artist since Guiseppe Verdi has
been forced to endure such vicis­ that she was married to an
American at the time. Perhaps our
situdes because of political
beliefs. She can be likened to the government did not agree with
her choice of a husband. He was
noble heroine who sings the title
the political activist, Stokely
role in Verdi’s “Tosca.”
The two hour non-stop perform­ Carmichael.
She expressed the desire to
ance in Portland was a showcase
that alternated with Miss Makeba, return to her native land where
who was backed up by three she intends to give a concert in
African beauties and the flam­ Soweto Stadium. It is very possi­
b o y a n t, b u t ta le n te d , Mr. ble that Miss Makeba will satisfy
Masekela who pitted the com­ that desire in the near future. This
mand of his flugel horn in mock­ writer wants to be sitting in the
ing bird-like obligatto against his front center row of the orchestra
Afrikaan clarinetist. Of the latter, section when that happy day mo­
the only thing white about him ment arrives. Certainly that is go­
was his skin. The sweetness of ing to be one of the most glorious
his licorice stick and the purity of days in the life of all Black people.
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his art is all soul, through and
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Mr. Masekela is the complete
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“ S im e la ,” a P r o u s tia n -lik e
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PORTLAND OBSERVER
SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDREN
“ RAISES THE ROOF”
“ Sarafina!,” the music of libera­
tion, starring a talented group of
black South African teenagers,
w ritte n and c o m p o se d by
Mbongeni Ngema and Hugh
Masekela (who is coming to Pod-
land with Miriam Makeba on Fri­
day, Sept. 2, at the Schnitzer Con­
cert Hall) continues its long run
during the long hot summer on
Broadway at the Cort Theatre in
New York. Free Nelson Mandela
and black South Africa! Write on!
Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela
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