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August 5, 1992„.The Portland Observer...Page 5
Portland Observer
ENTERTAINMENT
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T O T A L EC LIPSE
P ortland B lack R epertory Theatre Opens O rig in a l M usical C om edy
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L eontine G uilliard
The 1980 PBRT h it musical com
edy, Red Beans & Rice, w ritten and
directed by Rosemary A llen w ill open
August 14 and run through September
6 (Previews, August 12, 13) at the
Portland C ivic Theatre B uilding, 1530
SW Y am hill. Performances are Tues
day, Wednesday, Thursdays at 7pm;
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and
Sundays at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are
available fo r S I3.50, $15.00; and fo r
opening night $17.50, and $10 fo r pre
views. They can be purchased at all
Ticketmaster outlets, Ja’ Bells Beauty
Supply, 5834 NE M artin Luther King,
Jr. B lvd., and at the Pordand C ivic
Theatre box office, 226-4026. There is
an additional $1.00 per ticket service
charge at Ticketmaster outlets and the
C ivic theatre box office. Season sub
scriptions fo r the last tw o shows o f the
season can be purchased at #23.40 for
non-members, and $16.50 for PBRT
members.
Red Beans & Rice is the second
presentation in the Portland Black Rep
ertory Theatre 1992 season, which is
the firs t Equity season o f black theater
presented not only in the history o f
Oregon, but in the entire Northwest.
The Pordand Black Repertory Theatre
season is presented under an A cto r’ s
Equity Association small professional
theater contract.
Red Beans & Rice is a m usi
cal comedy that dramatizes the
story o f the history o f black music
in America. The setting moves
from church to n ig h tc lu b to
church; featuring the songs o f
Bessie Smith, B illie Holiday, Ella
Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, James
Cleveland; duke E llington, and
more. There is choral singing and
jazz and tap dancing, w ith a con
gregation o f co lo rful characters
and a zany romantic couple.
L ive music is performed by a
sic piece jazz band under the d i
rection o f local jazz pianist, J amcc
Scroggins. The original theme
song. Red Beans & Rice, was
written and arranged by Thara
Memory, Janice Scroggins, and
members o f the original 1980 Red
Beans and Rice cast. Vocal director,
W illie Binns has created original ar
rangements o f spiritual and gospel songs.
Choreography is by Sagirah Banks, set
design by Patrick Steward, costume
design by Wanda Walden, and lighting
by Jon Ares.
The play was first presented to
sold-out audiences in 1980 in repertory
w ith the choreodrama, For colored girls
w ho’ ve considered suicidc/whcn the
rainbow is enuf. According to play
w right, Rosemary A llen, “ It was meant
to give us an opportunity to laugh to
each other, and to get away from the
serious problems that seem to always
be prevalent in theater about the black
experience. W e s im p ly wanted to
unapologetically embrace the wonder
ful and th rillin g soulfulncss o f black
people.”
Red Beans & Rice features a danc
ing, singing and acting cast o f 18 artists
and a 6 piece band. Actors include:
Vernon Ambus, Johnathan Berry, Rose
Ann Butler, Debra Brown, Leontine
G u illia rd , L e w is Dwayne G olden,
Gypsy Dance, Tabari Jones, Soomi K im ,
Gayle M ille r, Louise Moaning, Kudra
Owens, Brenda Phillips, Karen P h ill
ips, Zawdic Phillips, Barbara Thomas,
Denise W illiam s, and Jessie Jackson.
Actress and blues singer, Leontine
G uilliard, is a special featured artist.
She w ill recreate her popular role o f
“ Messy Bessie” (Bessie Smith). Ms.
G u illiardcurrently lives in Los Angeles
where she has played leading roles in
television movies, and performed as a
blues and jazz singer in clubs. She
currently performs in Los Angeles with
C A D E A U , a jazz duo, w ith her partner
Michael R. Simpson. Her extensive
credits include the H B O ’ s drama tr il
ogy, “ Prison Stories; Women on the
Inside,” airing last year, fo r w hich she
was submitted for an Emmy nomina
tion. Other credits include the c ritic a lly
acclaimed KCET;s American Playhouse
production o f Zora Is M y Name,” and
adaptation by ruby Dee; “ Frank’s Place,”
and the NBC movie o f the week, “ She
Knows Too M uch.” She made her fea
ture film debut in “ Nuts,” starring Barbra
Streisand and directed by the late M ar
tin R ill who was the creative genius
behind such film classics as “ Sounder,”
“ Hud,” and “ Norma Rae.” Ms. G uilliard
is the younger sister o f T. V. and screen
actor, Yaphet Koto.
Red Beans and Rice was first pre
sented in 1980 at the Cabell Center lo r
the Performing Arts w ith a cast that
featured musicians, actors and dancers
who have since become local and na
tionally recognized talent. Musicians
in c lu d e d , tru m p e t p la y e r and
bandleader, Thara Memory who was
musical director; Obo Addy, percus
sionist, Don M um ford, drummer, John
Mazzocco, bass, and Janice Scroggins,
piano. Ruby Bums was choreographer,
and the play was the debut o l Portland’ s
currently only African American Eq
uity actress, Brenda Phillips.
The 1992 Portland Black Reper
tory Theatre season culminates w ith
emerging playw right, Marian X ’ s W et
Carpet, directed by Terry Bellam y, o f
St. Paul, Minnesota (Previews arc Sep
tember 16, 17 and opening September
18 through October 11). The play fea
tures an all-fem ale cast. It is the north
west premiere o f this new drama set in
the present, in Baltimore, which tells
the story o f three sisters and the daugh
ter they raise.
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in the physical universe a total eclipse is a forboding
darkness caused when one planet crosses in front o f a source
o f light, it’ s a great cause o f wonder, but the result is an even
stronger energy and brightness that emanates thereafter. In
ancient times it wasa sign o f change, a symbol that something
new was on the horizon. In 1992 this Total Eclipse is a
throbbin’ groovin’ rockin ’ slam m in’ fe elin ’ bandcom in at
ya courtesy o f vocalist Bernie K., guitarist V icto r johnson,
drummer Dave Brown and bassist Dre’ Baby. B rillia n t m usi
cians in an equation that is pure magic. Alchem y is alive!
Here’s how the cards lined up for Total Eclipse so they
could record their debut alum on T ab u/A & M Records. Bernie
K. was the powerhouse voice, Dave Brown was the master
blaster behind the drum k it in the original all black, hard rock
metal band Sound Barrier who were signed out o f the L A
clubs and released three albums (yes, w ell before L ivin g
Colour). V ictor Johnson b uilt his reputation w ith the re
spected Bus Boys, w hile Dre’ Baby came from the more R & B
and funk side o f life. There was one common thread between
the four members who came together in Total Eclipse. We
a ll have our influences. 1 love rock and like to do the funk
thing,” said bassist D re’ , “ Dave has a jazzier background, but
deep dow n we all want to rock.” It shows.
“ Everything that had to happen in order to make this band
be a reality d id,” said drummer Dave Brown. “ I ’d been
bugging Vic for years to put a rock band together.
I had
originally come to Los Angeles from Colorado looking for a
hard rock band,” said the highly respected guitarist Johnson.
VJ ended up touring and recording as the axemaster in the Bus
Boys and sat in on a few Sound Barrier gigis. D re’ baby came
west from Cleveland, found work as a session player, also
joined the Bus Boys and recently recorded w ith Jennifer
Batten (M ichael Jackson’ s last tour guitarist). He was the final
lin k in the Total Eclipse chain o f fortune. I kept thinking,
said vocalist Bernie K. “ Lord just give me a bass player. We
found one who could really lay it down!
Once intact the Eclipse captured the attention o f pro
ducer Michael McDonald (the engineer fo r such diverse
artists as M artika, Patti La Belle, Ray Charles, and the Desert
Rose Band) who took thee band into the studio to record
demos. The band played a handful o f shows, and quickly
established a reputation inside the tight musical community
o f Los Angeles w ith their live performances. “ Vocalist Bernie
K. combines the sensual assurance o f M arvin Gaye w ith the
firebreathing vocal finesse o f Rod Stewart and... Guitarist
V icto r Johnson’ s solos possess all the shock inducing impact
o f a concussion bomb,” said the L A D aily News. A fte r that.
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Brow n’ s brother-in-law saw the band live and walked the tape
into Clarence A vant’s office. He played it w ithout identifying
the band and that started the ball rollin g . “ U ltim ately, we were
given fu ll control to make the album we wanted,” remembers
Brown. Immediately the band went into the studio w ith
producer M cDonald to lay down the tracks. “ We turned on the
tape and just started jam m ing to get the vibe,” said Dre’ “ and
went from there.”
“ 1 just wanted something that fe lt right. That’s our
m otto,” chimed in the undeniable Bernie E., who captured the
attention o f Bruce Springsteen, w hile Total Eclipse was
recording their album and ended up doing a session with the
Bass. “ As long as it feels right is what this band is all about.
There hasn’ t been one day since w e’ ve been together that I
haven’ t heard the word ’ groove'. It all starts there, it has to be
there. We a ll want something that is universal, and great music
has to have a groove.”
The real proof is in the music you’ ll find in the thirteen
tracks in the self-tilled debut album. Total Eclipse has com
bined a grinding groove (what they call “ Rock n Groove” ) and
superb musicianship w ith a confidence that makes them
unique. Listen to “ Get Outta Y o ’ Body” and you’ll feel like
dancing. On “ Check Me Out” you’ ll understand Bernie K .’s
invitation to get into his band. “ I like to tw ist the lyrics
sexually,” Bernie says, “ because I think rock should be sexy.
Get into it and we know you’ ll dig it.” Put “ Freedom Star” on
the stereo and you’ ll understand the sentiment that comes
from four black musicians who are socially aware and pas
sionate. And for those music lovers who appreciate great
guitar work, V ictor Johnson’ s solo w ill send shivers to your
fingers as you wonder where those notes come from. “ Fire In
The Rain” which has become Bernie K .’ s signature work is
redesigned this time. Il has grown from a simple piano ballad
about the demise o f a former band, to the title track o f one
album, and is now a Total Eclipse sweeping and clim atic
favorite, as w ell as the first single from their debut release.
“ I think the strength o f this band,” said Johnson, “ is that
we are doing what we really feel and there is a special
chem istry.” “ We can look each other in the eye,” adds D re’ ,
“ w ithout saying a word and know i f it ’ s right.” “ I ’ ve even had
people come up to me,” concluded Bemie K. “ and say man
you guys play so tight, you sound like you wear the same
underwear!” ”
Rarely w ill you find four such spirited musicians w ith
such a commanding feel for their music, a broad spectrum o f
musicality, all focused on one target, as the players in this
band. But then how often docs a total eclipse come along?
PORTLAND OBSERVER
‘The Eyes and Ears ol the Community
Olfice: (503)208-0033
Fax#: (503)288-0015
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Will be in Portland Aug.7. Showtime, Roseland Theatre. For tickets
please call 224 8499 don't miss it I Arrested Development is one of the
hottest groups around (wow that s entertainment).
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