If It's Good Enough for the Obamas . . .

We caught the matinee of Joe Turner's Come and Gone yesterday afternoon, the Lincoln Center Theater's revival of the second of August Wilson's cycle of plays tracing the 20th-century experiences of African-Americans. Director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, Light in the Piazza) has done a remarkable job bringing Wilson's rich play to life and drawing out the best in an ensemble of incredibly talented actors.

Set in 1911, Joe Turner deals with the period immediately following the emancipation of slaves, as African-Americans struggled to find a place to call home. The play centers on a boarding house run by Seth (Ernie Hudson) and his kind-hearted wife, Bertha. Boarders drift in and out, paying by the week, looking for work and a place to sleep for awhile until they move on to the next place, the next job, the next relationship. The one long-time boarder is an older "conjure-man" named Bynum (played brilliantly by Roger Robinson, who is favored to win a Tony award on Sunday). Bynum peddles his services as a "binder" (an agent for bringing people together) and tells anyone who will listen that discovering, and embracing, "one's own song" is the step they must take before they can move on in life. Other boarders include the young and impetuous railroad worker Jeremy; the unlucky in love Matty C, man-eating Molly, and the intense and mysterious Herald Loomis and his young daughter, Zonia. Loomis and his daughter have been searching for his missing wife for four years. Rutherford Selig (Arllis Howard) the only white man in the ensemble, is a peddler who specializes in finding missing persons.

The easy, comfortable delivery of Wilson's dialogue, the sparks of humor, the fully drawn characters, and the sharing of food and stories around a large kitchen table infuse this production with a sense of community that is set against the struggle of these transcient African-Americans as they search for identity, for connection, for freedom, for roots, and for respect. They are no longer slaves, but they are only one step away from slavery and the world around them is still oppressive and racist. We both loved this play, and it's one that has provided lots of conversation between us. It was kind of cool to be there while the staff in the theatre was still buzzing about the Obama's visit last week . . . the CultureBuddies are nothing if not cutting edge!

West Side Story

We had to pay full price for the tickets to West Side Story (a rarity since we can almost always find a discount code for at least 40% off), but we felt this show would be worth it and we were right. Many things are terrific about this show--the dancers' crisp and precise execution of the original Jerome Robbins choreography, the incredible music accompanied by a huge Broadway orchestra, the colorful costumes of the 37 singers and dancers, and the innovative set design.
The two standouts in the show are the actresses who play Anita and Maria. Karen Olivo (the original Vanessa in In the Heights) is feisty and beautiful as Anita--she is fantastic in this part. Newcomer Josefina Scaglione is lovely as the young, innocent Maria, and she is in complete control of her crystal-clear, perfectly-pitched soprano voice. On top of that she is a natural actor and a wonderful dancer. It's no wonder that she was nominated for a Tony award.

We were both disappointed, however, in the performance of Matt Cavenaugh as Tony. Although he is handsome and has great chemistry with Maria, his voice is just not strong and rich enough for this role. We also found the male ensemble as a whole a little weak--it seems like the casting directors went for dancers, not for actors who could make their characters seem distinct or great singers. Great dancers they are, but something is missing; there is no edge to any of their performances. The show would have been richer if they had chosen dancers who were just as outstanding as actors and singers. The women really carry this show, and the performances of Karen Olivo and newcomer Josefina Scaglione, along with the chance to experience the incredible original choreography and the beautiful score of West Side Story make this a must see revival.