Is it just me or do some authors have a penchant for creating weak, whiny female characters? And I'm not talking about male authors, the chicks!!
I am currently reading through a series of novels that were recommended to me by a co-worker and, while I like the stories, I am getting tired of reading about these leading women who are determined to be pacifists when they are being mistreated and threatened by forces that could be dealt with with great finality if they used the resources available to them. And to add insult to injury, they don't heed the direction of the people who have lived the new life they are coming into for years (centuries). Someone tells them to stay put, they leave and walk right into danger. Someone tells them "don't go play in the brier bush" and they jump in ass first then cry for healing and help when, had they not done what they were warned not to do, they wouldn't be in the situation to begin with. Like they are two years old and don't know the stove is hot!!!!
I am aware that I can sometimes be very vengeful and too ready for payback against people who have done wrong, not necessarily to me, but to any person that would be defenceless unless someone came to their aid. But to have stories about these women who, before they meet these men have these harrowing experiences and live through them just fine using common sense and good reflexes, and then they meet these men, come into this new lifestyle and lose all the sense they had and their reflexes. Do any of these authors think it ridiculous to have a man beat someone senseless, prepare to rape them, and plan to keep them tied up to "have fun" with them for days on end pitied by the person they are attacking? And then, for that person to not want them killed, and for that person to not want to watch if they can't do the deed themselves? I mean, in one of the books the chick flipped because she was the only way link to the men being able to kill her attackers telepathically and as a result, she had to look at the person and watch the murder....SERIOUSLY!!!! If that's all I have to do for you to avenge my abuse then that's just fine with me!!! But again, maybe that's just me.
I'm going to continue reading the books but like I said, the weak women who are supposed to be these people's last hope are so trapped by their own limitations that it seriously irritates me. To have women who need their mate to coerce them into doing what they know is best for them. Or need to have a man to pull them out of danger because they are too paralyzed by their own fear to fight or run for their lives. While fear can be a very paralyzing thing I would think that when faced with your fear or dying, one would choose life.
But like I said, maybe its just me. Apparently these authors have found a market for, in my opinion, pathetic women. And here I am, borrowing them from the library because they were recommended to me by a female reader who, by the way, missed all the relationship and "fighting for your life" and teetering on the edge of extinction parts of the story and only told me about the wild sexual encounters. The books are more than the pathetic women and more than the sex. But the pathetic female leads are really bugging me.
Again, I needed to get that out.
Wednesday, September 7
Tuesday, September 6
Beauty and the Beast
Question: Why did I go see this musical?
Answer: Because the first time was a horrid experience!!!!
I saw Beauty and the Beast years ago, when I was in high school (it makes me sick to think that was years ago, lol) and all I could remember from the show was that I was sitting in the most uncomfortable box seats with no armrests and the lady who played Belle had a shaky, shrill voice that annoyed me for the ENTIRE show! I remember thinking in the beginning that it may have been nerves, but after 10 or 15 minutes on stage...certainly after intermission, you should be in the swing of the show and immersed in your character and nerves should not be a factor. I don't remember anything else about the show. It is like her voice was the spot of blood on Lady Macbeth's dress that she couldn't get out no matter how hard she scrubbed. No matter how hard I try to forget that voice, I can't. And I can't remember anything else about that production because I can't not remember that voice....like nails on a chalkboard.
Anyway, so, I went to see the musical and it was AWESOME! I dare say the cast for this year's touring production is one of the best traveling companies I have seen so far! They were all so talented, their comedic timing was GREAT! Nafoo was hilarious. All of the characters where as memorable on stage as they are on the animated movie. This production was an example of how, no matter how small the set, the CAST and direction of the play the difference in how it is perceived by the audience. The set was absolutely small. While it was very colorful, it was almost minimalistic. Even the castle of the beast only had 3 or 4 parts to it, but the way those parts were moved around, and how the actors traveled and worked with the set made it seem larger than it was. It was like every detail, small as it was, was taken into account like it was larger than life. One of the most impressive things for me is how the set for the castle interior of the Beast's home was moved around. There were human gargoyles that spent the entire time they were on stage in poses as if they were real gargoyles and when it was time for a staircase to be moved, or a room to be turned around, they worked together to move the sets, then went back into formation. It was seamless, and part of the show, and the show wouldn't have had the same effect if they were not there & the set was on mechanics or strings and; pulleys like some of the other show sets are. There were, or course, musical numbers that were a part of the show that are not part of the movie, but there was one with an AWESOME dance sequence that was a combo of singing, dancing and prop percussion (like STOMP) that was absolutely amazing! I mean, they clinked and tossed beer mugs across that stage like it was nothing, all while dancing and with NONE of them looking like they were working really hard to catch and clink on cue without messing up.
I am so glad I went to see this show because it was nothing short of amazing. I wish I could see it again. I wish I could have recorded it because they were absolutely amazing! Even with a small set!
Answer: Because the first time was a horrid experience!!!!
I saw Beauty and the Beast years ago, when I was in high school (it makes me sick to think that was years ago, lol) and all I could remember from the show was that I was sitting in the most uncomfortable box seats with no armrests and the lady who played Belle had a shaky, shrill voice that annoyed me for the ENTIRE show! I remember thinking in the beginning that it may have been nerves, but after 10 or 15 minutes on stage...certainly after intermission, you should be in the swing of the show and immersed in your character and nerves should not be a factor. I don't remember anything else about the show. It is like her voice was the spot of blood on Lady Macbeth's dress that she couldn't get out no matter how hard she scrubbed. No matter how hard I try to forget that voice, I can't. And I can't remember anything else about that production because I can't not remember that voice....like nails on a chalkboard.
Anyway, so, I went to see the musical and it was AWESOME! I dare say the cast for this year's touring production is one of the best traveling companies I have seen so far! They were all so talented, their comedic timing was GREAT! Nafoo was hilarious. All of the characters where as memorable on stage as they are on the animated movie. This production was an example of how, no matter how small the set, the CAST and direction of the play the difference in how it is perceived by the audience. The set was absolutely small. While it was very colorful, it was almost minimalistic. Even the castle of the beast only had 3 or 4 parts to it, but the way those parts were moved around, and how the actors traveled and worked with the set made it seem larger than it was. It was like every detail, small as it was, was taken into account like it was larger than life. One of the most impressive things for me is how the set for the castle interior of the Beast's home was moved around. There were human gargoyles that spent the entire time they were on stage in poses as if they were real gargoyles and when it was time for a staircase to be moved, or a room to be turned around, they worked together to move the sets, then went back into formation. It was seamless, and part of the show, and the show wouldn't have had the same effect if they were not there & the set was on mechanics or strings and; pulleys like some of the other show sets are. There were, or course, musical numbers that were a part of the show that are not part of the movie, but there was one with an AWESOME dance sequence that was a combo of singing, dancing and prop percussion (like STOMP) that was absolutely amazing! I mean, they clinked and tossed beer mugs across that stage like it was nothing, all while dancing and with NONE of them looking like they were working really hard to catch and clink on cue without messing up.
I am so glad I went to see this show because it was nothing short of amazing. I wish I could see it again. I wish I could have recorded it because they were absolutely amazing! Even with a small set!
Friday, August 19
Help Hullabaloo
So, the talk of the African American (AA) literary community (writers and readers) for the past few days has been about the book that has recently been turned into a movie called The Help.
Before I get into what other people have said, let me start with that I think. First and foremost, I have not read, nor do I intend to read this book. I don’t doubt that this author is very good at what she does, nor do I question the level of entertainment that others have gotten from reading this book. I will not read this book because I have no desire to read about circumstances surrounding the disenfranchisement of black people told by a white author. While I do read all races of authors, I just don’t have the need to read about my history from the creative mind of a white author. In the same vein, I wouldn’t read a book about the Jewish historical experience written by a Nazi sympathizer or a book about the Native American experience written by someone other than a descendant of Native Americans. While I do believe that all authors have the ability to tell any story and tell it well, I don’t feel that you can write about someone else’s experience with the same amount of authenticity as that person, or a person directly related to that experience, could. Could a white person give an apt portrayal of Jim Crow South? Yes, absolutely! Do I feel a white person can give an accurate portrayal of Jim Crow South from the black perspective? HELL NO!
Having said that, I will also not see the movie. At least not in theaters. After all, I do have Netflix. I have an issue with the fact that this book was optioned for a movie so quickly when there are so many excellent portrayals of the black experience by AA authors. Although I am not an author, I feel slighted by this occurrence and have found myself wondering why so many AA written books are not optioned for films when they are just as good and just as well read as books by white authors. Through reading some posts on FB I have gathered that there are many factors that we as readers can control, that hinder books by AA authors. Things like lending, borrowing and bootlegging AA works by members of the AA community work as a disservice to the AA artists. This affects more than just AA book, but also AA movies, hence the adding of bootlegging.
It seems obvious what needs to be done to fix this issue. Black readers should spend more of their resources purchasing AA authored books, if they like to read. I’m not saying this as someone who doesn’t practice what I preach. I am well aware that you spend your money on what you want to spend it on. I enjoy spending my money on books and the majority of the books I purchase are by AA authors. I do it because I like to spend my money on books. I will take my last $6.00 and buy a book. Now, I am oh so guilty of reselling books. I have bought books that I didn’t like, books that I know I’m not going to read again and I look to sell them or give them away. I haven’t been that successful in selling them, but I do it when I can. This doesn’t help with the issue of AA writers, but I must admit that the ones I will reference are not authors I’m looking to sell. Doesn’t make it any better for the other authors, but it is the truth.
I’m going to try and cut this short because I have discovered that I could talk about this for quite some time. That is one benefit of this book. I didn’t know I felt this way about the issue. I mean, I knew I liked to read AA books. Most of my personal library is AA books, but I was unaware of the fact that I was knowledgeable about the fact that AA authors have portrayed black characters for years and gotten almost no play on the Hollywood scene. I mean, look at something with as much critical acclaim as Roots….TV only. The Color Purple made it to the theaters…with Spielberg at the helm. It would be nice if some of the many books about the black experience written by AA authors would get more play on the big screen. But then again, if they did, would the black community go see it or bootleg it.
So, that’s all I’m saying at this point about The Help. I repeat, I don’t have a problem with this book being written or its author. To see my issues, refer again to paragraph one.
Monday, August 1
The Wizard of Oz
Here's how I was able to enjoy this musical: One, I haven't seen the movie 100 times over; Two, I've never seen the musical. If either of those had been a factor, I would not have gone to see the musical. In fact, I had already passed on seeing it twice before, but my determination to support the arts in my city, which needs to be done because the reception of the arts is piss poor here, overran my desire to see it on stage. In fact, I bought the tickets on a total whim. I was watching TV and the ad for the musical played and I went to Ticket Master and ordered the tickets...and got darn good seats at that!
The musical was good. It had all the songs from the movie and a couple of songs that were just for the musical and plots to go along with those. I loved the dancing poppies and the ladies who played trees and poppies and snow were very good! The cast all had really good voices and the men did a really good job of playing their parts. I have often thought that the males roles in this musical were very eccentric and a little off, and wondered how much it took for the men in the movie to play such silly, and sometimes, simple roles. Like how many takes it took to get the scene and the lines just right. But watching the men live and on stage, they did an excellent job of being exactly what the roles called for them to be...which is their job, so they should have been good at it, right? lol. The munchkins were actual kids. I don't know if I expected them to be little people or what, but they were all kids and even a couple of local kids were a part of the ensemble. Toto was cute but I don't think it was a yorkie like on the movie and he wasn't all black, but you know, he played his part. What was interesting and, I guess, different, for me at least, is that this is a musical with a lot of traveling. And there are things that happen during the travel, so the travel is showed...on a small stage. So there was a lot of walking in place, or walking in circles, not even the whole span of the stage, that made it seem monotonous. The only time Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion really MOVED during thier travel was when it was time for them to exit the stage. This was an example of a musical that was very small on stage. Very small.
I'm glad I went to see it. I don't think I would see it again, but that isn't anything new. After all its a movie classic and I think the movie is better than the musical. But there was a great turn out for it. The fact that it was only in town for two days contributed to that, I'm sure, but I was really happy to see a packed house here. That doesn't happen often and that is why I tend to go out of town to see a show. So to sum it up, the musical was good, not great, but it was enjoyable.
The musical was good. It had all the songs from the movie and a couple of songs that were just for the musical and plots to go along with those. I loved the dancing poppies and the ladies who played trees and poppies and snow were very good! The cast all had really good voices and the men did a really good job of playing their parts. I have often thought that the males roles in this musical were very eccentric and a little off, and wondered how much it took for the men in the movie to play such silly, and sometimes, simple roles. Like how many takes it took to get the scene and the lines just right. But watching the men live and on stage, they did an excellent job of being exactly what the roles called for them to be...which is their job, so they should have been good at it, right? lol. The munchkins were actual kids. I don't know if I expected them to be little people or what, but they were all kids and even a couple of local kids were a part of the ensemble. Toto was cute but I don't think it was a yorkie like on the movie and he wasn't all black, but you know, he played his part. What was interesting and, I guess, different, for me at least, is that this is a musical with a lot of traveling. And there are things that happen during the travel, so the travel is showed...on a small stage. So there was a lot of walking in place, or walking in circles, not even the whole span of the stage, that made it seem monotonous. The only time Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion really MOVED during thier travel was when it was time for them to exit the stage. This was an example of a musical that was very small on stage. Very small.
I'm glad I went to see it. I don't think I would see it again, but that isn't anything new. After all its a movie classic and I think the movie is better than the musical. But there was a great turn out for it. The fact that it was only in town for two days contributed to that, I'm sure, but I was really happy to see a packed house here. That doesn't happen often and that is why I tend to go out of town to see a show. So to sum it up, the musical was good, not great, but it was enjoyable.
Tuesday, July 12
The Lion King
There isn't enough I can say about this musical! It was absolutely wonderful! I will begin with talking about what I thought it would be, then what it was.
First of all, I went to see this with my mom, which is a plus. I love including her in things I love to do.
Second, when I first heard about The Lion King, the musical YEARS ago when it opened on Broadway, I was not excited about it. I wasn't excited about the movie when it came out. In fact, the only reason why I saw the movie (for the first time on VHS tape- not even in theaters) was because my brother and sister wanted me to watch it with them because they loved it and kept quoting lines from it during my visit over the summer that the movie was released on tape. So I watched it with them, and loved it! Loved the music, loved the storyline, everything. Then, when I heard about it going on Broadway I was exceptionally limited by my own mind. As much as I like to think I have this wonderful imagination, I could not fathom how they would be able to put singing animals on stage. There was no way that my mind could conceive that and accept that it would be good and worth the money to see it, versus watching the movie.
Boy was I wrong!
This musical was completely magical! From before the overture began to the very last curtain call. A lot of times when you see a musical on tour, there's a sense that you are missing some of, or a lot of, the key elements that went along with having the Broadway stage at your disposal. For one, the Broadway stage is fitted with grooves and apparatuses that are needed to support shows and plays with huge sets that move and transport you from one place to the next. For example, when I went to see Aida on tour, after seeing in on Broadway, there were a lot of staging elements that were missing and the musical felt "small" on the stage at the Landmark Theater, versus the stage at the theater I saw it on in New York. The musical was still good, but it just felt cramped to me. I'm sure that those who hadn't seen it on Broadway didn't feel slighted at all, which is more than likely why I was and am so enamored with the production The Lion King that I saw after not having seen it on Broadway. But there were so many elements that were in this traveling production that I know were present on Broadway that I am pretty darn sure that the only thing missing was a bigger stage. The animals still came down the aisles, the birds still flew from the balconies...I mean, it was a visual paradise! The only thing that was off from the traveling play versus the show on Broadway was that the guy who played Timon was in a green body suit. Now, on Broadway, he blended in with the greenery of the forest that was a part of the set on stage. But in the traveling production, he was in front of a yellow-orange screen & backdrop with long lines of grass on the stage floor. It wasn't a green washout like on Broadway, but that was even OK. There's even the song the Rafiki sings to Simba when she (it was a lady in this production) finds him after feeling that he is still alive that I SWEAR I have heard before. I don't know where, but I knew that song like I had sung it before and I'd never seen the musical & never heard the soundtrack...to my knowledge. The same thing happened when I went to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat when Joseph sang "Close Every Door."
I would CERTAINLY see this production again, in fact, I'm trying to get the funds together to see it in a few months. It was really awesome.
On a sadder note, though, I couldn't help thinking, as I was watching the musical about the little girl who played Nala on Broadway and had passed away about a month before I saw the show on tour. She was such a cute little girl who had a passion for Broadway and had been diagnosed with cancer. It was hard to imagine, as I watched the performer who played Nala that night, that such a young, vibrant personality had been snuffed from the earth by a truly vicious and unrelenting disease. So, I end this post with her picture and a reminder to cherish the life you have and the people you live it with. They can be gone faster than you know.
First of all, I went to see this with my mom, which is a plus. I love including her in things I love to do.
Second, when I first heard about The Lion King, the musical YEARS ago when it opened on Broadway, I was not excited about it. I wasn't excited about the movie when it came out. In fact, the only reason why I saw the movie (for the first time on VHS tape- not even in theaters) was because my brother and sister wanted me to watch it with them because they loved it and kept quoting lines from it during my visit over the summer that the movie was released on tape. So I watched it with them, and loved it! Loved the music, loved the storyline, everything. Then, when I heard about it going on Broadway I was exceptionally limited by my own mind. As much as I like to think I have this wonderful imagination, I could not fathom how they would be able to put singing animals on stage. There was no way that my mind could conceive that and accept that it would be good and worth the money to see it, versus watching the movie.
Boy was I wrong!
This musical was completely magical! From before the overture began to the very last curtain call. A lot of times when you see a musical on tour, there's a sense that you are missing some of, or a lot of, the key elements that went along with having the Broadway stage at your disposal. For one, the Broadway stage is fitted with grooves and apparatuses that are needed to support shows and plays with huge sets that move and transport you from one place to the next. For example, when I went to see Aida on tour, after seeing in on Broadway, there were a lot of staging elements that were missing and the musical felt "small" on the stage at the Landmark Theater, versus the stage at the theater I saw it on in New York. The musical was still good, but it just felt cramped to me. I'm sure that those who hadn't seen it on Broadway didn't feel slighted at all, which is more than likely why I was and am so enamored with the production The Lion King that I saw after not having seen it on Broadway. But there were so many elements that were in this traveling production that I know were present on Broadway that I am pretty darn sure that the only thing missing was a bigger stage. The animals still came down the aisles, the birds still flew from the balconies...I mean, it was a visual paradise! The only thing that was off from the traveling play versus the show on Broadway was that the guy who played Timon was in a green body suit. Now, on Broadway, he blended in with the greenery of the forest that was a part of the set on stage. But in the traveling production, he was in front of a yellow-orange screen & backdrop with long lines of grass on the stage floor. It wasn't a green washout like on Broadway, but that was even OK. There's even the song the Rafiki sings to Simba when she (it was a lady in this production) finds him after feeling that he is still alive that I SWEAR I have heard before. I don't know where, but I knew that song like I had sung it before and I'd never seen the musical & never heard the soundtrack...to my knowledge. The same thing happened when I went to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat when Joseph sang "Close Every Door."
I would CERTAINLY see this production again, in fact, I'm trying to get the funds together to see it in a few months. It was really awesome.
On a sadder note, though, I couldn't help thinking, as I was watching the musical about the little girl who played Nala on Broadway and had passed away about a month before I saw the show on tour. She was such a cute little girl who had a passion for Broadway and had been diagnosed with cancer. It was hard to imagine, as I watched the performer who played Nala that night, that such a young, vibrant personality had been snuffed from the earth by a truly vicious and unrelenting disease. So, I end this post with her picture and a reminder to cherish the life you have and the people you live it with. They can be gone faster than you know.
Thursday, June 23
Book List 2010...Better Late Than Never
So, last year I made a goal of reading 36 books over the 12 months of the year. If I were reading up to my usual speed and frequency, this would have been an easy feat, but since I was not...I didn't make it. However, I will share the list of books I read for 2010. I'm trying again to reach 36 for this year...but I'm off to a very slow start.
1.) No More Playas by Brenda Jackson
2.) Marked by P.C. and Kristen Cast
3.) Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon
4.) The Warded Man by Peter Brett
5.) Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon
6.) Dance With the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon
7.) Kiss of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
8.) Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon
9.) Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
10.) Any Rich Man Will Do by Francis Ray
11.) Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
12.) Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
13.) Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon
14.) Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon
15.) Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon
16.) Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon
17.) Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
18.) Nappily Married by Trisha R. Thomas
19.) God Still Don't Like Ugly by Mary Monroe
20.) Orange, Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice
21.) Stone Cold Surrender by Brenda Jackson
22.) Jared's Counterfeit Fiancee by Brenda Jackson
23.) The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams
24.) Dead In the Family by Charlaine Harris
25.) Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
26.) Betrayed by P.C. and Kristen Cast
27.) Chosen by P.C, and Kristen Cast
28.) Untamed by P.C. and Kristen Cast
29.) Hunted by P.C. and Kristen Cast
30.) Tempted by P.C. and Kristen Cast
31.) Burned by P.C. and Kristen Cast
32.) I Am Number 4 by Pittacus Lore
Now, the purpose of this goal was for me to read through some of the 86 books on my own personal bookshelf that I have yet to read and have owned for years. But it didn't work out that way. Out of 32 books, 22 were borrowed from the library, 5 were newly purchased in 2010 either in paper or on my Kindle and the remaining 5 were from my bookshelves! This year hasn't started off any better. I've spent more time in the library than on my own shelves. But I'll get to them eventually.
1.) No More Playas by Brenda Jackson
2.) Marked by P.C. and Kristen Cast
3.) Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon
4.) The Warded Man by Peter Brett
5.) Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon
6.) Dance With the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon
7.) Kiss of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
8.) Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon
9.) Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
10.) Any Rich Man Will Do by Francis Ray
11.) Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
12.) Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
13.) Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon
14.) Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon
15.) Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon
16.) Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon
17.) Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
18.) Nappily Married by Trisha R. Thomas
19.) God Still Don't Like Ugly by Mary Monroe
20.) Orange, Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice
21.) Stone Cold Surrender by Brenda Jackson
22.) Jared's Counterfeit Fiancee by Brenda Jackson
23.) The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams
24.) Dead In the Family by Charlaine Harris
25.) Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
26.) Betrayed by P.C. and Kristen Cast
27.) Chosen by P.C, and Kristen Cast
28.) Untamed by P.C. and Kristen Cast
29.) Hunted by P.C. and Kristen Cast
30.) Tempted by P.C. and Kristen Cast
31.) Burned by P.C. and Kristen Cast
32.) I Am Number 4 by Pittacus Lore
Now, the purpose of this goal was for me to read through some of the 86 books on my own personal bookshelf that I have yet to read and have owned for years. But it didn't work out that way. Out of 32 books, 22 were borrowed from the library, 5 were newly purchased in 2010 either in paper or on my Kindle and the remaining 5 were from my bookshelves! This year hasn't started off any better. I've spent more time in the library than on my own shelves. But I'll get to them eventually.
The Color Purple
I made it to see The Color Purple while it was on tour last season. I could say it was my Thanksgiving gift to myself. I'm glad I went to see it. After hearing so much about it while it was on Broadway and not being able to make it to New York, I was elated when it finally came on tour.
Having said that, I must admit that, for me, the hype had me so excited that the musical itself was a little of a let down. Let me qualify this by saying that the music was great. The singers were great. I even got to see Latoya London from American Idol playing Nettie and that was very exciting for me. I think what let me down wasn't the music itself, or the acting, but the storyline. The story of The Color Purple has been present in my life through book and movie for almost all of my life. So much so that when the movie comes on TV, I don't even watch it anymore. I avoid that channel at all cost because, while I don't want to see it, if I flip past it, I will stop and recite the lines I know by heart along with the movie. I've read the novel by Alice Walker three times. I think part of me was thinking that the playwrights of the musical would have taken some creative license with the storyline and changed or added some things, like they do in movies. They did add some things for the benefit of fitting in the songs (like the scene for Push the Button) but there was so much that was pretty much exactly like the book or movie that I found myself wanting to fast-forward to the next song. But, that was my issue & my issue only. I went with a friend who absolutely loved it in its entirety. So to each her own. I don't regret seeing it, I still think it was money well spent, I just expected more.
Having said that, I must say that I was exceptionally disappointed in the AUDIENCE! You know how they have the announcement every time before a play or musical stating to "please refrain from taking flash photography during the performance" or "taking pictures during the show is prohibited" and "please silence or turn off your cell phones." Well, leave it to the one musical I go to, with a predominately black (us) audience and a predominately black cast to have folks taking pictures with flash DURING THE SHOW and cell phones ringing in both sections of the show (before and after intermission). You know that part of you that wants to look around in aggravation and exclaim "are you serious?" I spent a good part of the musical suppressing that part because that wouldn't make me any different than them. But it was so disappointing. It was also disappointing to realize how many people have not read the book! I mean, come on! Its an African-American Fiction Classic!!!! You should have heard the audible, loud gasp that went through the crowd when Celie said her baby was her daddy's baby, and then later that her daddy was her step-daddy!!! Come on people!
So anyway, that was that experience. I probably will not go see it again as I have other musicals because, while it is a classic, I have been inundated with The Color Purple all my life....I'm classic-ed out. lol
Having said that, I must admit that, for me, the hype had me so excited that the musical itself was a little of a let down. Let me qualify this by saying that the music was great. The singers were great. I even got to see Latoya London from American Idol playing Nettie and that was very exciting for me. I think what let me down wasn't the music itself, or the acting, but the storyline. The story of The Color Purple has been present in my life through book and movie for almost all of my life. So much so that when the movie comes on TV, I don't even watch it anymore. I avoid that channel at all cost because, while I don't want to see it, if I flip past it, I will stop and recite the lines I know by heart along with the movie. I've read the novel by Alice Walker three times. I think part of me was thinking that the playwrights of the musical would have taken some creative license with the storyline and changed or added some things, like they do in movies. They did add some things for the benefit of fitting in the songs (like the scene for Push the Button) but there was so much that was pretty much exactly like the book or movie that I found myself wanting to fast-forward to the next song. But, that was my issue & my issue only. I went with a friend who absolutely loved it in its entirety. So to each her own. I don't regret seeing it, I still think it was money well spent, I just expected more.
Having said that, I must say that I was exceptionally disappointed in the AUDIENCE! You know how they have the announcement every time before a play or musical stating to "please refrain from taking flash photography during the performance" or "taking pictures during the show is prohibited" and "please silence or turn off your cell phones." Well, leave it to the one musical I go to, with a predominately black (us) audience and a predominately black cast to have folks taking pictures with flash DURING THE SHOW and cell phones ringing in both sections of the show (before and after intermission). You know that part of you that wants to look around in aggravation and exclaim "are you serious?" I spent a good part of the musical suppressing that part because that wouldn't make me any different than them. But it was so disappointing. It was also disappointing to realize how many people have not read the book! I mean, come on! Its an African-American Fiction Classic!!!! You should have heard the audible, loud gasp that went through the crowd when Celie said her baby was her daddy's baby, and then later that her daddy was her step-daddy!!! Come on people!
So anyway, that was that experience. I probably will not go see it again as I have other musicals because, while it is a classic, I have been inundated with The Color Purple all my life....I'm classic-ed out. lol
Tuesday, June 21
Getting Back
Ok, it's been a while since I've posted here. The last few months have been so packed with deaths and births and other, time consuming activities as well as starting a new blog and a new journey that I have neglected to continue working on the blog dedicated to my passions. I have not stopped reading. I have not stopped attending shows. I just haven't taken the time share them here, so those things will be coming and coming soon. I haven't forgotten about you, blog nation, I just took a little break.
More to come.
More to come.
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