Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/114777
CFRT's Parchman Hour Is the Season's Don't Miss by JANICE BURTON we remain a fairly divided community. Those who are regular patrons at the theatre The Parchman Hour, on stage at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, may be the most will, if they are honest, acknowledge that the audience at most of the shows is fairly socially relevant and important theatre to be staged this year in Cumberland County. Now, having said that, I realize it might sound pompous or may even make you want to white. That wasn't the case with this show. This show brought our community together run screaming from the idea of seeing the play — but don't let it. This is the must see of to talk about one of the most divisive times in our nation; I believe that common ground was found. the season. You cannot see this show without having your biases, even if you don't admit that Written and directed by Mike Wiley, the show doesn't just entertain; it challenges you have them challenged — and that goes to people of all races. While the content you to look inside, to do a reality check on your own ideals. As uncomfortable as that sounds, I would be remiss not to say that while it is a sanity check, it is also outstanding is heavy and will leave you on the edge of your seat, you will feel uplifted at the ability of the human spirit to overcome hate and ignorance. The theatre. It entertains as well as illuminates the human story is told through short vignettes that are interspersed condition, while visiting a dark era in our nation's history. with music; music that will uplift your spirit, even while it The show chronicles the hot summer of 1961 and the chronicles the sorrow of others. It was in music that the Freedom Rides to integrate the segregated bus lines of students and activists who were imprisoned in Parchman the South. Historically accurate, the show focuses mainly found their salvation and it is where we find it in the telling on the tribulations of nine of the students/activists who of this story as well. traveled South during this turbulent summer. The cast, While the story and Wiley's telling of it is the ultimate comprised of just 16 individuals, is required to play the role star of this production, the performances by cast makes it of a number of characters that cross both gender and racial shine. lines. As a whole, the cast was without equal. Tim Cain, who portrayed Jim Farmer, the director of Wiley, who knows the material intimately, reworked the Congress of Racial Equality (the group who organized the script for the staging of the show at the CFRT. Having the Freedom Rides), showed strength, wisdom and drawn rave reviews across the nation, it was its opening above all faith in the face of unadulterated hatred. What at the Playmakers Repertoire in Chapel Hill, N.C., that The Parchman Hour chronicles the hot summer of 1961 and the I particularly liked about Cain's performance was the drew the attention of the CFRT Artistic Director Tom Quaintance. In the notes for the show, Quaintance wrote: Freedom Rides to integrate the segregated bus lines of the South. degree of humility that he brought to the role, rather than "Sometime in the middle of the first act, I started to shake," wrote Quaintance, who is the son of an Alabama Civil Rights lawyer who was intimate with the Freedom Riders. "I grew up in a household where the Civil Rights movement was central to our identity, yet I knew very little about the Freedom Riders and their amazing story." After seeing The Parchman Hour, Quaintance knew it was a project that he had to bring to the CFRT stage. "It was one of those 'This is why I do what I do' moments. This is why I became a theatre artist. This is why I moved my family across the country, so I could be in the position to support a production like this in a community like Fayetteville." Quaintance believed it was a show that the community would embrace, and from what I saw, he was right. To talk about a show like The Parchman Hour, you have to be honest. So, I am honest in saying that as much as we as a community tout our diversity, coming off as an extremist, he played the role of an elder statesman, who in the end, had to confront his own weaknesses. Sonny Kelly, a local minister who works with Fayetteville Urban Ministry and Christ Gospel Church, was a stand out. Kelly, who played the role of Stokely Carmichael, brought a passion to the role that shone through in his singing and dancing. Joy Ducree Gregory has a beautiful singing voice that can make you see heaven even in the face of hell. Her mastery was matched by Hazel Edmond. Quickly becoming a favorite on the CFRT stage, Samantha Fabiani wowed with her vocal prowess. Lack of space prohibits me from mentioning everyone, but the performances by the cast as whole JANICE BURTON, Associate Publisher, were stellar. Up & Coming Weekly, COMMENTS? The show runs through March 24. editor@upandcomingweekly.com. To get your tickets, visit www.cfrt.org. N.C. Ballet Goes on Pointe with Ballet Classics by CHARLOTTE BLUME Ballet Classics springs to life on March 17 at Methodist University's Reeves Auditorium. Ballet Classics, danced by the North Carolina Ballet, is directed by Charlotte Blume and will feature three separate ballets. The lyric and beautiful "Les Sylphides" is set to music by Chopin and will headline the Jupiter 'The Bringer of Jollity' from Holst's The Planets will be a program. Holst's feature of the North Carolina State Ballet, Ballet Classics, March The Planets will 17, at Reeves Auditorium, Methodist University. feature signature pieces "Jupiter" and "Venus." The third ballet will be "Variations" and "Grande Pas Classique" from Paquita. "Les Sylphides," with choreography by Fokine was first presented in 14 UCW MARCH 13-19, 2013 Paris by the Russian Ballet in 1909. It was staged by Fokine in 1940 for the American Ballet Theatre and restaged by Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1984. Blume learned the choreography from Fokine in his latter years and has staged the ballet for the North Carolina State Ballet. The Planets, by composer Holst has bee performed in orchestral and electronic versions. The Tomita electronic version is the best known. The performance will feature Tomita's electronic rendition of "Venus." An orchestral rendition of "Jupiter" will accompany the dancers and contains the most well-known musical themes of The Planets. Choreographer Wei Nei has staged The Planets in a modern classic form. Pasquita was staged for the Russian Imperial Ballet by Petipa in 1847. It was the first work he ever staged. Some 40 years later, Petipa revised the ballet to music by Minkus and that version has endured. "The Finale" and "Grande Pas Classique" remain in the repertory of the American Ballet Theatre. Nei has staged Pasquita for the North Carolina State Ballet. A performance for Cumberland County and Regional Schools will be offered on March 14, at 10 a.m. Reservations may be made for both the school and public performances by calling the ballet company at 910-485-4965 or through the company website at www.ncstateballet.com. Tickets are $16 for general seating and may CHARLOTTE BLUME, NC State be purchased through quicktixx. Ballet Director. Contributing com or at the door. Children Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ under 12 are admitted free. upandcomingweekly.com. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM