November 24, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 5
ENTERTAINMENT
IBCHJMD
RIEIPCICT
“ The Immigrant," by Mark Harelik, comes to the Interstate Firehouse
Cultural Center. America has been called “ a nation of immigrants," and
here’s The living proof, with slide photos and documentation right her in
our city, at IFCC. (playing November 11th - December 11th)
"The Immigrant,” fleeing the Russian Tzar's programs (a organized
massacre of helpless people), racial, religious bigotry, to land her in this
country and live in Texas. Just as the pilgrims came so we all can
celebrate, as they and the Native Americans did, this Thanksgiving
holiday with a feast of sharing and joy.
Terry Nelson directed this Mark Harelik/Randel Myler conception,
based entirely on the Harelik family history in Hamilton County, 260 miles
from Galveston, Texas. It is not an easy show to mount, even though
there are merely four characters. The role of “ Haskell Harelik,” is
energetically played in several languages (Yiddish, English, Russian and
Hebrew words) and dialects by Richard Avilla. “ Harelik’s wife, Leah,"
played by Mary Jo AbiNader, stretches in age ranging from a young
Russian immigrant bride, to a mother of three or four sons and a pillar of
their local Texas community. The White Texas couple, the banker,
“Melton Perry,” played by Jeff Miller, is a tough bird, with his cowboy boots
and playing the kindly old omnipresent administrator and “ his wife, Ima,
smoothly portrayed by Terry Chiles, as the ideal ultra-feminist. A nice
Texas lady, who becomes “The Immigrant’s," protector and guarding
angel.
I agree with the theatre program notes that “what keeps the tale from
falling into more sentimentality is the way “ Harelik, The Immigrant,”
struggles to maintain his integrity and identity, against “the banker's”
frequent need to dominate him in his new home and fight to survive to
build a life and successful business. That’s the main conflict in the piece
and without it, we don’t have a play. It would become just a long
“commercial" for some dry goods merchant’s family business and history.
It's a holiday treat at the IFCC, where we have seen South African
immigrants (“ Homeland” ), Native Americans, “ Ishi, the Wild Indian” ) and
Asians (“ Tea” and coming soon, “ Yankee Dawg You Die” ), to name just
a few. And let’s not forget the millions of African "immigrants,” who came
to this country against their will to work as slaves to make this country
great and what is today.
The Blacks in this part of Texas are not dealt with in this piece, so we
don’t know what “ The Immigrant’s" role was here. We know there were
Black people in Texas at that time, but not their relationship with these
Russian Jewish immigrants. Perhaps, a possible good source of
dramatic conflict that was missed here.
“ The Immigrant,” is technically very difficult to do, with two different
"homes," interiors, exteriors, shops, upstairs scene locations and slide
projections of the real people and town (Scenic and Lighting Design by
Ronald Hill). The scene changes in this production are long and does
slow up the pace when the script seems more like a docu-drama film
concept, as opposed to a stage play. Naturally, the costumes are
naturalistic “ period," from 1909 to the present as the characters age
during the passing years (Costumes by Jane Herrold).
It’s a good time-capsule of early twentieth century and chronicle of the
mechanics and spirituality of immigration to this country by, among
others, Soviet Jewry, who bring their hopes and dreams of a better life.
A Trio of Immigrant Play on the Scene
"The Immigrants” came, just as they did in another new play in town
at the Storefront Theatre’s Playwrights Festival, this week (November
19, 1988), by Jan Barross, “The Woman Who Walked With a List.” It
played one night with another new Irish immigrant piece by Michael
Whelan, entitled, “ High Tide.”
Christmas Concept Album Coming On CBS/
Tabu
Soul singer extraordinaire ALEXANDER O’NEAL is coming down the
chimney with something special this holiday season: MY GIFT TO YOU,
a new Christmas concept album just released on CBS/Tabu Records.
Five of the album’s nine tracks - including the first single, “ My Gift To You”
- were written and produced by the Flyte Tyme team of Jimmy Jam and
Terry Lewis. (This is the Platinum-plated pair behind ALEXANDER
O’NEAL'S best-selling '87 LP, Hearsay, and its hit singles “ Fake,"
“ Criticize,” and "Never Knew Love Like This.” ) On Side Two, ALEXAN
DER wraps his golden pipes around such Christmas evergreens as “ The
Little Drummer Boy," “ The Christmas Song,” and “ Winter Wonderland."
ALEXANDER O’NEAL is here with holiday cheer: MY GIFT TO YOU, on
CBS/Tabu Cassettes, Compact Discs and Records.
For Further information, contact:
La’Verne Perry
(212) 975-7003
Ivan Bodley
(213) 556-4870
QUINCY JONES AND AL B. SURE TUNE UP THE
SHOWCASE!
Multiple award-winning music producer Quincy Jones, hit-making re
cording artist AIB. Sure and actor/comedian Keenan Wayans are guests
on EBONY/JET SHOWCASE the weekend of November 18th-20th
(consult your local listing for date and time).
Quincy Jones, is known for his musical input on Michael Jackson’s three
phenomenally selling albums, the Academy Award-nominated film, “ The
Color Purple" and the socially impacting song, "We Are The World."
However, he reveals some lesser-known facts about himself, such as his
teen days of performing with young Ray Charles and his talents as a
trumpet player. The Chicago native tells why he describes his life as "a
pretty wild melody" and tells how he helped Cannonball and Nat Adderly
get into the music business. Jones also explains why he feels, “ Joy is in
relationship to what your pain was about.”
Hot, new R&B singer/writer Al B. Sure got his major music start as the
winner of a 1988 music contest judged by Quincy Jones. Sure has since
been churning out number 1 hits from his debut album, “ In Effect Mode,”
such as “ Rescue” and “ Off On Your Own.” Two years ago, he was a star
athlete at a Mt. Vernon, New York high school and he mastered his rap
style with homeboys like rapper Heavy D. Sure, who wrote songs like
"Night And Day" during classes, get "graded” by his former teachers,
while he tells the origin of his unusual name and explains his rapid
success.
Film producer, writer and actor are among comedian Keenan Wayans’
talents. A member of Eddie Murphy’s “ Black Pack,” Wayans starred in
Robert Townsend’s box office smash, “ Hollywood Shuffle” and has
appeared on the TV show ” A Different World.” Wayans helped produce
and write Murphy’s film, “ Raw,” and he talks about his new movie, “ I’Mo
Git You Sucka,” which spoofs the Blaxploitation films of the 70s and
features such stars as Jim Brown, Isaac Hayes and Clarence Williams III.
Also, artist Phoebe Beasley, who has created works for talk show talent
Oprah Winfrey, among others, paints a picture of her talents.
B E T T Y C A B IN E
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H a n d s: The B irm ingham W orld was
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e rnor’s aide Nathan D ickson, from the
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M andex Get High M a rk s : Mandex,
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WHOLESALE & RETAIL
HUNDREDS OF WIGS
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O p ra h d o e s it a g a in : Talk show
hostess O prah W infrey w ill go on rec
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W infrey, who recently acquired ow n
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the purchase of the 88,000 square
foot TV and film production facility on
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lion. The facilities feature a gym,
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marine. Mandex has established it
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underw ater surveillance and defense
system s, is in its second year of a $16
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dex, headquartered in Springfield.
VA, em ploys over 326 in a dozen
project offices throu g h o u tth e country
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B la ck W o m e n E n tre p re n e u rs -
W a n te d ! The National Council of
Negro W omen in conjunction with the
Urban Mass Transportation Adm m i
stration of the US D epartm ent of
Transportation, has announced a
national project soliciting black fem ale
entrepreneurs, to becom e transit en
trepreneurs. The program will not
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tract opportunities, but offers training
and guidance for wom en who want to
start up, expand or diversify their
business In the transit industry, via a
one-year series of seminars and ex
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the National Council of Negro W om en
at 777 United Nations Plaza, New
York, NY 10017 or call 212-687-5870
S c u lp to r T in a A lle n M akes Head
w a y : 34-year old, sculptor Tina Allen
is getting closer to her dream of co m
mem orating courageous blacks who
have stood against the odds, having
recently com pleted an $85,000 co m
mission by the City of Boston fo r a
nine-foot statue ot A. Philip Randolph
231 N. Lombard • Suite 200 • Portland. OR
Phone: (503) 289-0205
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ALEXANDER O ’NEAL OFFERS A SPECIAL
“GIFT TO YOU”
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