What has struck me the most is the vitriolic response not so much to the film but to Tyler Perry. As I said I am not a fan of his work but whatever my personal feelings toward that I try and stay away from personal attacks on him. I have my own reasons for why I don't like his work but some of the things that I have read from others really border on being mean spirited. If you don't like someone's work that's one thing but to attack their character and not know them (and seeing them on interviews is not knowing them, that's only a glimpse of them) is not good reporting to me. I have made my peace with going to see this work and am looking forward to whatever happens having a good experience.
I began hearing about a new musical, "Scottsboro Boys" by Kander & Ebb earlier this year because I had become "friends" with Colman Domingo on facebook. I saw him first on the, "Big Gay Comedy Sketch Show" on the logo network. The show itself has some really great moments and some not so great but a guilty pleasure of mine is him reading craigslist posting as Maya Angelou....
When he looks to the heavens after reading the postings which I suspect are real text I just lose it. I then saw him on PBS with the broadway production of, "Passing Strange." An incredible show that I think everyone should get on dvd. Currently Scottsboro Boys has moved to Broadway and I really hope it does well enough to tour. I haven't admitted this publicly to many people but I have started playing piano again and I would love to learn this song.
It sounds so touching and beautiful. I even suggested it to a great friend of mine Haqumai Sharpe as something he should add to his repertoire. The show is based on the notorious case of the Scottsboro Boys who were accused of raping two white women on a train passing through Scottsboro, Alabama. Told in the minstrel form it should be an interesting take on a night in musical theater. Leave it to Kander & Ebb to come up with a way to share another "dark" story. Susan Stroman directs and choreographs and from what I've seen and heard adds some incredibly subtle moments to the production.
Drumroll Please......
My Book, "Touch...Poems & Other Writings of Love, Erotica, & Sensuality" is finally coming out. I've created a page on facebook if you'd like to be among the first to know when and where to get it. Thanks to all who have supported me on this journey. As most of us creative types know Art Isn't Easy. You can plan but then life shows up and takes away your plans and ideas of what you want to happen but I can tell you honestly everything about this project is in divine order. My friend Anthony Batiste used his considerable talents to design the covers and the models and photographers who let me use their work have been especially supportive. Take a look!! I am blown away but what we created!!!
I'm also pleased to announce a piece I wrote called, "Let The Healing Begin" will be included in anthology due out soon called, "Mighty Real" edited by Darius Omar Williams & Royce Bryant Smith. I originally wrote the piece as a speech given at the National Convocation of the Unity Fellowship Movement. I really enjoyed it and didn't know what to do with it and ended up submitted it to this anthology. I am very honored to be a part of the collection and looking forward to its debut.
2 comments:
I totally agree with you about Tyler Perry and the For Colred Girls movie. Gotta get the dvd of the original as I remember how much it impacted me when I saw it on PBS back in the day. I already had my copy of the original written form so nobody can get that from me. Now I am anxiously waiting to get my piece of your written work which I feel is much needed in our lives today. I often ask other black same gender loving folk what they read and they give me blank stares. I love to collect what we have to say because our words areour witness to the power that lies within us all to connect, correct and perfect what's wrong in our lives...keep writing and speaking, cause I am listening and loving it!
I consider myself a fan of Perry's, mainly his stage plays. I can respect it for what it is and for how he reaches people who may not have ever had the chance to hear or experience any of the messages he presents on any other platform. BUT as far as For Colored Girls is concerned, I do believe he was a tad bit in over his head. I will say that the original choreopoem is a difficult piece to translate onto film. It will always lose something, no matter who directs/produces it because it is just way too powerful as a live stage piece. The way the film integrates Shange's words into Perry's dialogue was jarring and even painful at times. But the moments he caught with Phylicia and Loretta were absolutely stunning, mainly because of their acting ability but still...a director's eye goes a long way. Overall I would give the actresses most of the credit due for pulling the piece together. Perry has a knack for colors and imagery and the movie itself was visually stunning. I just wish he took a little more time with it and worked out all of the kinks before presenting such precious material to the world, only 75% done.
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