Newspapers / The Charlotte post. / March 16, 2006, edition 1 / Page 25
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http:/A/vww.thecharlottepost.com Witt CJiarlottc ^ost THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2006 D Section Drag can bolster comedic reputation Perry latest in cross-dressing clmracters THE DALLAS EXAMINER DALLAS - Madea Perry is back with a vengeance. Another lyier Perry play, “Madea Gfoes to Jail,” will open in Dallas this week to packed audiences, while the movie Madea’s Family Reunion finished number one in box ofl&ce sales its first two weeks in theaters. Madea’s enormous appeal begs the question: Just what is it about men dressing as women that has broi^ht so much laioghter and entertain ment value? White male artists have been enormously successful playing women, such as the late Milton Berle in his 1950s television show and actor Dustin HofEtnan in the 1982 movie “Tbotsie.” But brothas have done it with their own special flair. Here’s a historical look at, black men in dr^. * Tyier Perry as Madea We know "lyier Perry, the man, the brilliant play writer fix)m Atlanta, as the rowdy, gun-toting mama who teUs it as it is. She emerged on stage in Perry’s play “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” and she imrhediately had us all falling out laughing. She runs into the room in a floral dress with an oversized butterfly collar and, out of all things, she’s wearing a pair of beige pantyhose. With a head full of gray curls and a ciga rette hanging out her mouth, she swings her black bag side to side and reaches in to puU out her nine, saying “Call the po-po’s. I ain’t scared of the po-po’s!” She says and does things that no grandmother (or so we thoi^ht) in her ri^t mind would do, and SHE has Please see CROSS/2D ASSOCIATED PRESS/RICK HAVNER Steve Harvey, who was In Charlotte for the CIAA tournament, stars in “Don’t Trip...He Ain’t Through With Me Yet.” Keeping it clean Comedian Steve Harvey is Mr. Nice Guy in ‘Don’t Trip’ By Chens F. Hodges cherisJiodges®lhecliarlotleposl£om Comedian Steve Harvey is a changed man. Gone is the cursing King of Comedy In his place is a a cleaner mouth with a hit of an edge to it. At least Harvey is in his new concert movie, “Don’t Tiip ...He Ain’t Through With Me Yet.” Filmed at MegaFest in Atlanta, Ga., Harvey talks about everything fi'om Mchael Jackson to uppity church members. He even tells the crowd how he would introduce Jesus Christ if he had the chance to do it. “I ain’t been on stage and not cussed in 28 years,” Harvey said in the film. “So, y’all pray for me.” Harvey said that tha:e is an underserved audience that wants to laugh, yet doesn’t want to feel embar rassed when they do. They also don’t want to hear the raimchy language that many comics use. The movie opens Friday and should ride the trend of reHgious-theme movies that do well at the box office, Hke the Madea films (“I need aU of Charlotte to go out and buy tickets on the 17th, 18th and- 19th and make sure your ticket says ‘Steve Harvey Don’t Trip’ or I don’t get credit for it and I need all the credit I can get with just 57 screens,” Harvey said). Harvey isn’t all holy and pious in this film He still has that Harvey humor that will have you either shaking your head because he’s talking about someone you know or falling on the floor laughing “I was afi'aid that I would lose my core audience that made me all of this money,” Harvey said. “But I think Please see STEVE/2D THEATRE PREVIEW Arts, dance in ^Johannesburg Stories’ International theatre visits the Queen City By Victoria Elmore THE CHARLOTTE POST South Afiica’s greatest story-teller is coming to Char lotte. Gdna Mhlophe will perform in “Johannesburg Stories,” a new production created by Movii^ Poets Theatre of Dance, at McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square March 15-19. “Johannesburg Stories” is a diverse collaboration of arts, crafts, and dance that delves into South Africa’s culture and southern cultures in America; Mhlophe, who has performed over two decades, uses her story-telling abilities through acting, singing, and dancdig to deliver messages of cultural imderstanding. Wth her large imagination, she will offer inspiration along with the founder of Moving Poets, Till Schmidt- Eimpler. Schmidt-Rimpler created Movit^ Poets in 1996 and is formerly of N.C. Dance The ater and Dutch National Bal let. Moving Poets Theatre of Dance is a mixture of dramat ic story-t,filling through mod em dance, visual arts, music and theater. The collaborative group of performers breathes life into southern culture and its history Wth his choreog- rafher skills, together Rim- pler and Mhlope will create an artistically entertainment production that will engage the heart, soul, mind and gjirit. “Johannesburg Stories” puts audiences on the edge of their seats as they watch Afirican stories come alive over two hours. The playwright, James McClure, has a history of suc cess! The native of Louisiana made Broadway with “Lone Star” and “Pvt. Wars.” He also partn^^ with Kathy Bates and Sigourney Weaver and was an actor in Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Pacific Conservatory for Per forming Arts. Well-known stars and actors have come together to make “Johannesburg Stories” a pro duction of success. Mhlophe and Rimpler are being accom panied on stage by RandeU Haynes and Katherine Harri son. Artistic music will aug- Rapper T.L adds acting credit to resume By Chens F. Hodges diens-liodges® lheclmrlollciyosl.com In the new movie “ATL,” rapper T.L, also known as CHfibrd Harris, plays a char acter that most might not ejqject him to fit. A good guy ‘It was just a script,” he said “My character is a young man in a lot of grown up situ ations. It’s not a diaracter that people would e3q)ect me to play, he’s the good guy and not the bad man.” The movie will be released March 31, three days after TI’s album “King” hits the stores. So, is T.I. the Kir^ of the South as he has proclaimed time and time again? ‘Tm sorry you had to ask,” he said confidently. T.I. had beef with Houston rapper LiT Flip, who also claimed to be king. According to AUhiphop. com, the two rap pers got into a physical alter cation last March. According to the internet site, T.I. dismissed reports that he sustained serious injuries during the fight as reports si^gested, noting to on air personalities that he did not have a blemish on his body “Ima die by mine’s,” TE said. Neo soul newcomer has potential for greatness I Winfred Cross Ne-Yo In My Own Wortis Various Producers DefJam Records Whether Ne-Yo is a play on the sputtering neo soul move ment or not, this upstart singer is the real thing. New, yes he is, but only in the length of time the world has known abput Ne-Yo. This fellow has an ol’ soul when it comes to his music. Yes, “In My Own Words” is drenched in today’s sound, but it has its roots in the 1970s and ‘80s. There are a couple of samples from each decade, both involving a DeBarge brother. The opening song “Stay” takes its chorus fi^Dm “Stay With Me,” by DeBarge. It’s more of an interpretation than sample, with Ne-Yo gen tly massaging it to new heists. ‘Tt Just Ain’t Right” takes a page finm ‘70s soul group Switch’s ‘T Call Your Name.” It is a sample, but used cleverly. Ne-Yo fashions a chorus by simply using call and response: I call your name/And it just ain’t right. Keep Warhead’ on the shelf Jarhead Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper and Peter Sarsgaard Sam Mendes, director Universal Pictures Home Entertainment ment the stories by creating an AMcan/Southem vibe. “Johannesburg” composer David Crowe, musician at heart and a Grammy Award- vrinning storyteller, who has orchestrated symphony con cert stories for children. Crowe recently composed a music piece for the Dead Sea Scrolls at Discovery Place. “Johannesburg” is rich in meaning, understanding, and is culturally driven. Actors, dancers, and musicians have brought some of South Afiica’s historical ideologies and America’s southern cul ture to life on stage for the world to experience. For more information, log on to www.movingpoets.org. For tickets call: (704) 372 - 1000. As bad a movie that “Jar- head” is it reaffirms a few beliefs I had; War is stupid. I’m glad the Marines are on our side. I don’t want to live near a Marine that’s seen action. Not only is “Jarhead” a bad movie, it doesn’t even seem original. Yes, it’s updated to the Gulf War, but it seems so derivative. It’s also a bit slow. Director Sam Mendes wants character development, so you go about three quarters before these Marines even see Iraqis. TOth all that devdopment we could have least gotten one interesting character. Jake Gyllenhaal (Oscar nom inated for “Broke Back Mountain”) is Swoff, the guy that just wants to do right. He doesn’t really fit into the Marines - he seems to care too much. But he never gives you enough to care about him. Even the problems he thinks he’s having with his girlfiiend seem contrived. Jamie Foxx may be the biggest disappointment. His portrayal of Staff S^. Sykes is so seen-it-all-before that he bardy registers. He seems to be shimming his way between gigs until the next possible Oscar role. This movie leads up to these guys spending less than a week in Iraq. It’s no one’s fault the skirmish didn't last very long but surely something of interest hap pened. Maybe they aU should have watched “Three Kings.” The D'VD contains 35 min utes of ddeted scenes, some of which expand on the Swoffs fantasies. There are also some in-depth inter views and a few oth^ things that don’t turn a bad movie into a good DVD. Don’t say you missed it. Just say you didn’t see the movie. “If you’re not wiLling to die, or kill about the things you say [and] disrespect me, my fami ly and my loved ones, then you mi^t as well leave me alone.” The rapper stated that cn his end, the beef between him and Lil’ Flip is over. Now that T.I. has added actor to his resume, he plans to continue the craft, though Please see RAPPER/2D Clever, indeed. When Ne-Yo gets to the monster hit “So Sick,” you think something this good has to be a sample fium back in the day. Nope. It’s original and one of the best thirds to happen to radio in a long time. Ne-Yo’s voice is a cross between Usher and Donnell Jones, with a hint of Michael Jackon during the “Off The Wall” era. He uses it Hke a fine-tuned instrument most of the time. On occasion he gets into the ghetto fabulous stuff like “Sign Me Up” but it does- Rease see NE YO/2D f Jarhead is also released in a collectors edition. Ratings Classic; Excellent, Good k_ k Fair Why? ^ ^ No stars—Araess o»o
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