Kumaasi African Ensemble from Dallas enlivened the first day of the NW Louisiana Black Arts Festival. Above, a dancer wipes the head of the kora player, the griot. The fest continues today . . .
1:30 p.m.: Invasion, gospel music.
2:30 p.m.: Inter City Row Cultural Arts Institute, dance.
3 p.m.: New Dimension Brass Quartet, music.
4 p.m.: singer Neverlyn Townsel and the Fellowship Ensemble, music.
5 p.m.: Ena/Meschellaneous, poetry.
5:30 p.m.: G.C.R. Showband, variety music.
Inside the Municipal Auditorium:
8 p.m.: Bobby “Blue” Bland concert, with Freddie Pierson and Intimate Moments and local blues singer Jimmy Lynch. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Mainstage is aside the parking lot between Oakland Cemetary and the Municipal. I highly recommend visits to the fest because Saturday attendance was low and the pace was slow and conversations lovely; it was intimate.
1 comment:
This letter was forwarded to me and I thought it appropriate to share it here...it is an alternative review to Lane Crockett's of "Macbeth"
Dear Mr. Hooper and Ms. Peak
I am a native of Shreveport and I have lived on the Mississippi gulf coast for over twenty years. I decided to bring my 17-year old daughter, Stephanie, with me to Shreveport last weekend to escape the hurricane. Being supporters of the Biloxi and New Orleans theater communities and also avid Shakespeare fans we were delighted to see that your playhouse was performing "Macbeth" and we made plans to see it the following Saturday evening.
I happened to read Mr. Crockett's review of your show, which you had posted in the lobby. After seeing the show, I was so insulted by his outrageous comments that I feel compelled to write you in the hopes that you will post this account directly next to his own.
Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that we would have one of the most enjoyable nights we have ever spent in the theater. I have seen "Macbeth" performed many times, including having the privilege of watching the Royal Shakespeare Company perform it in London. Never have I seen the characters so completely captured with such vivid and exciting sets and lighting. My daughter just spent the last four weeks of her Advanced English class studying "Macbeth" in detail and she was thrilled to see it performed with such excitement and realism.
Line readings, which I had never considered before suddenly jumped out at me, such as "Lady Macbeth's" brilliant "unsex me here" speech performed so heartbreakingly by Susan Kirton. She had me in tears her first five seconds on stage and her sleep-walking scene left me with chills. Handsome Patrick Kirton as "Macbeth" did a phenomenal job of charming the audience at first and then unraveling into a complete monster in the end. The look of resolve on his face before his fatal moment was the perfect stitch on an already masterfully created quilt.
Other fine performances came from John Bogan, who simply chewed up the stage with his lusty portrayal of "Banquo." In fact, I have never LIKED that character so much, and I have never been so tortured by his death. Mr. Folmer and Mr. King added such depth and weight to the cast, as their veteran status is obvious. And what a clever use of the three witches as a thread binding the play together. Hats off to Ms. Schubert, Ms. Fortson and Ms. Gutierrez for performing such complicated roles with total captivity.
The ominous set, special effects, lighting and sound drew me into the action completely. The costumes were wonderful because they did not interfere with the scenes being played. No one came away from the theater that night unmoved and it is obvious to me that Mr. Crockett does not have the depth to understand the intricacies of Shakespeare, nor does he understand simple concepts like "motivation," "loss," "passion..." he does this production and the theater community a tremendous disservice by writing a review that might indeed keep people from coming to see it.
Take it from a loyal community theater patron and a Shakespeare lover, this production is more than worth-while...it is a treasure.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rebecca Brislin, Ocean Springs, LA
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