I
am so very obviously a child of the 1980s. This is why I love “The Goldbergs”
so much. I get to watch and reminisce at the same time. It doesn’t hurt that
they are incredibly funny either.
Back
in my day a hip toy could be easily disguised as a rock or even a raisin but
not just any raisin; a California Raisin. Do you remember those? For anyone too
young to know what I am talking about here is what they looked like.
These
Raisins were in a band and sung the very popular “I Heard it Through the
Grapevine”. The song was originally done by Marvin Gaye. They had a cartoon
show, were the official mascots of Post Raisin Bran, and an all-around cultural
icon. This song is now playing on a loop in my head with the Raisins as a
visual aid.
So
when talking about the only other raisin I know you will know why I started
with singing silly raisins and then moved to the topic of this post. I of
course am talking about the new play on Broadway “A Raisin in the Sun.” Most
people will have read this in school or at least seen one of the movie
versions. The latest incarnation featured Phylicia Rashad and Sean “Puffy”
Combs in
2008.
When
I think of this play I also think about Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”.
I was lucky enough to see that back in 2012 (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2012/06/for-death-of-salesman-and-my-dream-of.html).
The
main arc of the plot and the characters in it seem similar. They are certainly
families both struggling to survive their life circumstances and do what’s best
for the family. Alas, selfishness, greed, deceit, pretty much life in general
is what each unit is dealing with. That is all of us in one way or another.
These
types of stories always hit the heart hard. They bring up core issues that
everyone can relate to and even though you know how the story ends you are
still rooting for a miracle.
I
was intrigued by this production when I learned about it one year ago. There
was to be an all-star cast and since I have never seen it performed live I was
delighted to go.
Denzel
Washington plays William Lee Younger and is married to Sophie Okonedo who
portrays his wife Ruth. Together they made an awesome pair. Denzel’s William
was much more playful than I have ever seen this character. For that matter so
was the show. Everyone had jokes and there seemed to be more cheer in breaking
up the tense, otherwise depressing moments. In some ways that made them seem
much more like a real family. These two brilliant actors played off each
other’s chemistry and it felt like they had been married for over ten years.
When they looked at each other you could feel the history and emotion.
Denzel
got a lot of flak and didn’t receive a Tony nomination for his role, which was
pretty much the opposite of all the other major characters. I was bracing
myself because you never ever know how a big movie star will be under those
bright lights. As much as I tried to find a hole in his performance I couldn’t.
Even at the very end when I thought things should have stayed more serious I
have to agree that they did right by this production. It was moving it forward.
Sophie
was practically the back and bones of this show and story. She is present in
every scene and in those seconds when she is not her presence was sensed and
missed. She was the strong woman and wife who took care of her family,
forsaking herself, and pushed them ahead. When she breaks down it is almost too
hard to watch because you know how important she is to her family.
Originally
this play was also staring Diahann Carroll but she claimed the show schedule
was too intense for her and dropped out shortly before rehearsals began. She
was replaced by Mrs. Samuel Jackson a.k.a. LaTanya Richardson Jackson who was
REMARKABLE. Simply amazing. There are not enough words. As the mother who must
make an impossible choice and decide how her husband’s death insurance money
should be spent you see the way they all rely on her for support and
unconditional love. She seems to move about simultaneously knowing how
important she was. Mrs. Jackson you blew me away. I am happy to say that now I
have seen you and your husband (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html).
Ms.
Anika Noni Rose and I go way back to “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” in 2008. That was
the very first time I ever heard about her and boy has she been busy since. I
feel like she is in every television show and movie I watch. I especially
enjoyed seeing her on “The Good Wife”. When she appeared at the stage door back
then I was so surprised how nice she was even explaining she couldn’t sign
because she was late for a flight but stood and waved. Nice and talented is a
killer combo.
Since
we have gotten acquainted since then I knew she would be a knockout here. Here
as Benny, she was even better than I could have dreamed. She had the mix of
physical comedy, sensitivity, and raw emotions readily available for the ride
her character goes on.
Sean
Patrick Thomas from “Save the Last Dance” fame played a minor role but with a
lot of heart, as Benny’s boyfriend Joseph Asagai. His fake Nigerian accent was
a bit off but it kept you laughing and further displayed the difference of
opinion. He was a nice blast from the past.
Lastly
there is the set. I am always impressed when I see a good set. The design obviously had such thought and care which is so important. Especially in a show like this where
the set never changes. That means for almost three hours you are staring at the
same thing and as the actors move through it you have to believe that it is
really a home, fully functioning, and that this people who were created live
there. That is a lot to ask of one setting but it was pulled off flawlessly. I
began to smell the eggs that were “cooking” and the urgency from sharing a
bathroom with your neighbors. It all worked together. I have to reiterate
because if the set had problems the whole story goes out the window. It is the
base, the glue keeping the stage alive.
I
am happy to say that when it came time for the stage door, always a crucial
moment for me and them (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-those-who-want-to-learn-to-stalk.html), I was the first on my side of
the barricade. I was actually there standing in place of the barricade until it
was moved. I have no bad things to say. They all came out and while Sean and
Sophie only did a handful and fled, the rest went out of there way. Denzel
didn’t sign anyone’s playbill and appeared to have a soft cast on his left
hand. I was impressed if he was able to keep it off on stage if he is hurt. He
walked to both sides and was shaking hands. The right hand I am now using for
typing was touched by Mr. Washington himself. He posed and said hello and was gracious.
That’s all I ask. Anika and LaTanya were the best. They spent the most time and
took the most photos. I told LayTanya she should win her Tony her nomination it is well deserved.
Lorraine
Hansberry's wrote this classic in 1959 and put on Broadway for the first time
that same year. Lorraine Hansberry was the first African-American woman to have
a play produced on Broadway and only the fifth woman to win the New York Drama
Critics Circle Award for Best Play. Her inspiration was surely from her own
life. In 1940 in the case of Hansberry v. Lee went all the way to the
Supreme Court. Much like the Younger family, the Hansberry family went to court
to avoid being prohibited from moving into an all-white neighborhood.
The
Court:
“………held
that since some of the neighborhood landowners (46%) comprising the class of
the prior lawsuit did not support the restrictive covenant, the previous
decision that the covenant was valid could not apply to all members of that
class. In other words, it was erroneous to allow the 54% of neighborhood
landowners who had supported the restrictive covenant to represent the
interests of the 46% who were against it. Therefore, the Supreme Court held
that the restrictive covenant could be contested in court again, even though
some of the parties involved may have been included in the prior class of
neighborhood landowner.”
It
is unfortunate but Lorraine died at age thirty-four from cancer. We can only
wonder what the world is missing from this loss.
In
2010 Clybourne Park premiered on Broadway. This is the story of the original
white owners, of the future Younger home, life during Act I. Act II takes place
fifty years after the Youngers have moved in. I wish now more than ever I had
seen that show when I had the chance. I knew about the plot but somehow last
night sitting in that theater when the neighborhood was mentioned it was a
whole different ballgame. Too bad I couldn’t just walk next door to see this
play and continue on the journey. These plays really should be staged at the
same time.
If
you want to see Denzel and the rest of the crew there is no time like the
present. So get your butt down to the Ethel Barrymore Theater now.
This
show is closing on June 15th.
I
will leave you with these words by Langston Hughes for which the title for this
show is named:
A Dream Deferred by Langston
Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in
the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten
meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy
load.
Or does it explode?
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