Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 10, 1991, edition 1 / Page 8
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IIP:, im Ik mt&mx mmm$mmm$matgm$$i6MM. ? ?* ' # * . ' ? i ' tost In Yonkers has zest, with universal appeal ? " ... - \" i v ? CI ' Course the fight doesn't end on the new Broadway Preview Series. Friday evening; they do this sort of The play, directed by Gene thing all the time; in fact they've Saks, is hilarious, thought-provok been doing this for years. They ing, tearful, and wonderfully acted, fight six days a week ? ..including Simon, always in search of the uni ON THE ~ AVANT-GARDE By TANG NIVRI on the Sabbath. About the only time they don't figtiNs on Sunday after noon which is when Grandmother Kumitz takes her nap! Who are these people, why should we care, and why are they fighting so much? Well ? herein lies the tale and beauty of Neil Simon's latest offer ing, Lost In Yonkers , which opened here at the Stevens Center as part of. versal appeal, has found it once more! Lost In Yonkers is about a fami ly whose grand matriarch com mands a Hitler-like grip over its members, each of whom struggle with all of their might to free them selves from the shadow of her tow ering specter. ^The USA as a nation may indeed be fighting World War II, but 1942 and it's the "Friday Night Fights/ brought to you by Gillette! The ring; a small two-bedroom apartment over the "Kurnitz's Candy Store" in Yonkers, New York. ' In* one corner, two boys, Jay and Arty, (Jamie Marsh and Danny Gerard}, their father Eddie (Mark Blum), Aunt Bella (Didi Conn)^ their 35-year-old screwball spinster aunt, Uncle Louie, a small-timer two-bit gangster (Kevin Spacey), and Aunt Gert (Lauren Klein), an older but only slightly wiser Bella. In the other corner is none other than grandmother Kumitz. Hummm . . . like it's sure to be another Friday night mismatch ? after all, it's six against one. They're young and she's very, very, old! But she does carry a stick. After round one, it looks like it's the old lady by a knockout ? still undefeated! Grandmother Kur nitz, loved by some ? feared by all! - r for those who live under the "Kur nitz cane," there is hardly any per sonal peace ? at least notrinHhis home. Death would be better. * * And now that the boys' mother has died, their father wants Grand mother Kurnitz to keep them for a year while he goes out on the road to sell scrap-iron in order to pay a loan shark the moneylie borrowed^ during his wife's illness. Things at the Kurnitz Candy Store are about to change ? or are they? How much change is the human Jieart capable of? Grandmother Kurnitz, brilliant ly played by Irene Worth, is every body's worst nightmare. When she finally emerges from the bowels of her bedroom, it is as if the old Prus sian chancellor Von Bismark him self has come back from the dead to lead the Germans through World War II ? right here in Yonkers, New York. The power of the "unlaut" ihot through the Stevens Center likeAhe ^twwk" flies through the southside of Chicago. Irene Worth was so real that I wondered if she might indeed be German ? either in this life or in the one before. She might have been somebody else's grandmother for that matter. . ' In fact, Jeanette Lewis* Lena Crowder, and Flonnie Anderson who attended Monday's perfor mance, swore that it was their "Aunt Genoa" up there on the stage. I sus pect there were many who felt that way- ' > . - . You might wonder how can all of this be funny? Well, it wasn't all funny. These people really did hurt. Under all of the laughter, the mean ness of Kurnitz, the silliness of Aunt Bella, the moxie of Uncle Louie, all of the very funny one liners found all throughout the play, there also the overtiding, underlying q&es-> tion about the character of>ihe human heart and just how much ?it> can give and forgive? Forgive,?0St/ just one another ? but how much can we forgive life, when life tr6^&* us unfairly ? cruelly? * v How much can we forgive when nature deals us a very poor hand while everyone else seems to get kings, queens and aces? The entire cast was soooo" excellent. There was a lot of l0*e^ emanating from the stage Monday: night ? and it seemed to come f*qn^ the hearts of the . actors; it was as iT they not only enjoyed their craft,. tyit they also loved and enjoyed Simon's newest work. This is truly a Simon treasure, and as they say in the South, I couldn't care less What the folks in New York think. Besides, Jeanette, Flonnie And1 Lena just loved it ?' ?? * An exciting New Year begins at Urban Arts of The Arts Council As we enter into a new year and make our resolutions and start another diet, we all look forward to a year full of promise. Urban Arts of The Arts Council Inc., has made a resolution to make this its best year yet and is inviting Winston series of concerts Jan. 26 at the Arts Council Theater at 8 p.m. Admis sion is $8 at the door and $6 in advance. This concert is part of our Jazz Sampler series which hopes that in providing local and regional jazz musicians the opportunity for Herbert StephensT and Ervin Stowe share the stage to showcase some of the best jazz in the Triad and create a unique blend of their various jazz styles. v , The great jazz voice of Betty Carter will also be a part of our Jazz Sampler scries on April 27, 8 p.m. -at the Stevens Center. Considered one of the great American singers; Ms. Carter will bring to the Stevgns : Center stage a vibrant and vital i interpretation of jazz and beebop as one of the greatest jazz vocalists alive today. ? And right around the corner, we have a special event in February, brought back by popular demand. Urban Arts of The Arts Council Inc. and The North Carolina Black Repertory Company present Joman di Productions' "Queen of the Blues" ? An Evening With Dinah ^a?hington, February 2, in the '''KennetlTAK. 'Williams Auditorium on the campus of Winston-Salem State Univ^sity at 8 p.m. Admis sion is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. , . "Queen of the Blues" is musi cal entertainment based on the life of jazz and blues artist Dinah Wash ington. Produced by Jomandi, a nationally known, professional the- = atre company out of Atlanta, "Queen of the Blues" offers a great night of music, drama, and comedy for everyone. Tickets for this, as well as our jazz series, are available now at the Arts Council, Now Hear This, and Discount Records and Taps. Jomandi tickets are also avail able through the North Carolina Black Repertory Company. ? In addition to these special events, we have some ongoing pro grams to which I would like to draw your attention. Our continuing Art Is program j^royides-tiaining in the performing and visual arts to chil dren ages 6-15 and is open to all Winston-Salem/Forsyth County res idents. Classes are offered in piano, dance, drawing, and painting, Mon? day through Thursday/Classes are still open, and anyone interested , should call (919) 722-5293. We are very excited about the outreach of our Art-Is program ? Art- is Too ? that offers training in the arts to youth in public housing developments of Piedmont Circle, Kimberly Park, Cleveland Avenue Homes, and Happy Hill Gardens. Funded by the Winston-Salem Foundation, these after-school Arts Reach By REGGIE JOHNSON i Salem wid Forsyth County residents lo help us reach our goal. We have some exciting programs this winter that we hope will promote a greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the arts in our com munity and all we need is you. We are specifically excited about our upcoming concert in Jan uary. The Ron Rudkin Band led by saxophonist/woodwind specialist Ron Rudkin and SPEX featuring local musicians playing jazz rock and jazz fusion come together for the second in our Jazz Sampler technical exchange and public exposure, it will help introduce the public to the great variety of jazz styles and jazz talent in the commu nity. Also included in our Jazz Sam ? ?* "A pier series is The All Star Jazz Jam bringing together area jazz musi cians for one special night, March 29, 8 p.m. at The Stevens Center. The regionally known talents of Keith Byrd, Calvin Crisp, Charlie Culbreath, Matt Kendrick, Steve Kirkman, Chris Murrell, Federicp Pivett^i<^anice Price, Ron Rudkin, classeg in dance, voice, drawing, and painting are offered Monday through Thursday, encouraging the children to "explore their creativity and providing a positive oudet for ?them to express their emotions. This year we are proud to con tinue our Young Black Writers pro gram. This program is a seminar series focusing on high school-aged new generation with an opportunity to leajn about 'literature. It offers Si^cialized instruction so that young people can learn the cra&'of I writing. Our Young Black Writers program, as well as our Art-Is and Art-Is Too programs, are open- for 1 registration. For more information i' concerning any of these or .the . events mentioned above, please call, < (919)722-5293. V vrtrvuvr* ?r?v tive director for Urban Arts of the Arts Council Inc. WINSTON CUP PREVIEW N.C. BIack Rep to present MLK Birthday bash Chronicle Wire Report * The North Carolina Black Repertory Company will present its sixth annu al Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 7 pjA. in the Arts Council Theatre. The event is free and open to the public. I For'the past five years the Repertory Company has presented this offering to. the community on the actual birthday of Dr. King. The event has been so / weTHttended over the years that people have been turned away. It is therefore suggested that those interested in attending make reservations to ensure proper seating by calling (919) 723-7907. most talented African-American artists in the Winston-Saicm cortimuiiity will offer performances in tribute to the celebration of Dr. King and his positive impact and contributions to the civil as well as human rights struggle. Performers on this year's program include award-winning producer/direc tor/actor, Larry Leon Hamlin, who will recite from Dr. King's famous speech, "I Have a Dream." Other artists performing will include vocalists: the Rev. John Heath, Car lotta Samuels, Randy Johnson, Kenny Mallette, Sharon Frazier, LaTonya Black, Cynthia Bailey, Connie McCoy, and Mamie Lemons. In addition, Ambassadors for Christ Gospel Youth Choir, under the direction of David Allen, will also perform. Mabel RobinsSfi, a stage director and choreographer of musical theatre, will read from the late Sydney Hibbert's "St. James Infirmary." Mr. Hibbert, ar award-winning actor, directoj, and writer, participated in a number of Dr. Mar tin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebrations with the North Carolina Black Repertory Company. He was also a special consultant to the artistic director of the company and was instrumental in helping to organize the 1989 National Black Theatre Festival. - * '< ? Additional performances will be provided by -dancers: Robin Little, John Franklin, and Kelvin Wharton; as well as actors, James Smith, Andr6 Minkins, Willette Thompson, John Poindexter IV, ToQy Patterson, and playwright, Nathan Ross freeman. Other artists, choirs, and singing groups interested in performing should contact Larry Leon Hamlin at (919) 723-2266. The performances are geared toward the family, especially the youth of the community. A lot of checking accounts that are called "free" can cost you a lot more than you bargained for. Nickel and dime special fees tacked on to your account can really add up in a year. k At First Federal, Free Checking is another story. A $200 minimum balance is all you need-to earn interest on checking, and membership in First Federal's Check ClufejL,y ? - _i. " As a Check 6lub member you get free credit card protection, a financial newsletter, local merchant discounts, the convenience of 24-hour banking and a whole lot more. _r-heck At First Federal, all that adds up are the benefits. BUNDLE? FIRST FEDERAL ^SAVINGS BANK A' (919) 723-3604 ? 230 N. Cherry Stt ? Stratford Rd. ? Reynold? Rd. ? Robin Hood Ctt. ? Hane* MaH ? Parkview Shopping Ctr. ? Stanleyville ? Gernmom ? Mockivilk "I'll BeThere Because I Gue!'^ JANUARY 12, 1991 10:00 AM. JO 8:00 P.M. BENTON CONVENTION CENTER WINSTON-SALEM, NC FOR TICKETS CALL 1-800-444-4950 > i H05WA. * t miMmm. Antrim Drivers scheduled to appear at different time*.
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Jan. 10, 1991, edition 1
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