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.:: features
 
.:: sections
+respect. James Earl Jones. Actor
+editorial. Barack Obama for President
+editor's note. Kenya
Obama. Shepard Fairey

 

 
.:: profile

cat on a hot tin roof
phillip harvey
The large multi-purpose room is a buzz with a muted excitement. Journalists, camera technicians, theatre professionals and a cross-generational collection of esteemed actors mill about the room exchanging greetings and other random niceties. It is press day for the ground breaking production of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and there is more than a modicum of anticipation in the air. After all it is the first time that Williams’ take on the ambivalent, at best, and combustible, at worst, nature of family, class and sexual relations is being staged on the Great White Way with an all black cast.

And what a cast it is. Counted among the actors in the room are the legendary James Earl Jones, the criminally under appreciated Giancarlo Esposito, the grand Phylicia Rashad, the Tony Award winning Anika Noni Rose, the incandescent Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard and, last but not least, the ubiquitous Debbie Allen (more on her later).It is arguably the most impressive cast assembled for a dramatic Broadway play in this nascent century. But as innovative and fresh as all of this appears, the roots of this gathering reach back well over a decade.
continue
Phillip Harvey is the publisher and editor of Nat Creole. He likes theater, basketball and Nag Champa.

 

 
.:: respect

james earl jones
actor

When people speak of James Earl Jones they usually begin with the voice. They try to find words that effectively describe this beautiful yet bottomless vocal quality that seems to come simultaneously from some place both low and guttural and high and transcendent. After throwing around words like deep and low (and sometimes simply “Black”) they usually settle for a reference to Darth Vader, the Universe’s most popular Sith. And then everyone goes “Oh yeahhh.”

But that is not James Earl Jones. When you speak of James Earl Jones speak of the man who has been making significant contributions to the arts practically non-stop for the last five decades. When you speak of James Earl Jones speak of the presence and dignity he has brought to every project he has ever been in. To every appearance you have ever seen him make. Speak of how he has provided the template for the way in which a rooted man is supposed to comport himself, express himself and assert himself. continue

James Earl Jones is currently starring as Big Daddy in Tennesee Williams' Cat on the Hot Tin Roof on Broadway. It is so fortunate and beautiful to see a legend still at work. For ticket information visit http://www.cat2008onbroadway.com/.

 

 
.:: editorial
barack obama for president
phillip harvey

On many domestic fronts Hilary Clinton is an excellent candidate for President of the United States. Her mastery of policy and apparent ability to run a large scale operation efficiently are impressive. It is also reasonable to believe that she has an intellectual marriage to her ideas and will fight to see them carried out. Overall, the domestic agendas of both Clinton and Obama are largely similar. There is reason to believe that both will make responsible jury selections, stand up for civil rights in a broad sense and work toward improving the horrendous Education system. There is also reason to believe that the difference between "Universal Coverage" and "Universal Access" will prove to be a wash on the Health Care issue. But there are large differences between the two Democratic candidates and it is because of these differences that Nat Creole is endorsing Barack Obama for president. continue

Phillip Harvey is the publisher and editor of Nat Creole and an unrepetent political junkie. If, by chance, you would like to hear more hot air and ruminations, email him at ph@natcreole.com. Let the warm winds blow.

 

 
.::editors note espect.

kenya
phillip harvey

For a picturesque moment, Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga stood inches away from one another with hands clasped. Directly behind the two men stood former United Nations Secretary General, and current Chair of Eminent Persons, Kofi Annan, beaming with appreciation. For that picturesque moment it seemed as if Kenya could be made whole again after nearly a month of being torn apart. For a picturesque moment, everything seemed well. Since that picturesque moment (and two handshakes later), Kenyans have been killed, Kenyans have been displaced and Kenyans have had their lives indelibly altered.

It wasn’t supposed to happen here. The machete welding… the raping of women…the burning of homes…the brutal and inhuman taking of life… the suppression of human rights, it wasn’t supposed to happen here. Not in Kenya. Kenya had stood as one of the most stable of the African nations since differing forms of sovereignty swept the continent in the middle of the 20th century. From an outside perspective, Kenya appeared to be one of the more tolerant of the nations that have to deal with deep and entrenched divides in its republic. Its sizable middle class was thought to be a bulwark against the viscidities and extreme shifts of fortune that make many republics so susceptible to violent instability. But the fact is that 800 Kenyans have been killed and 600,000 Kenyans have now been displaced and the illusion of stability has been blown into tiny little shreds of national identity. continue

Phillip Harvey is the publisher and editor of Nat Creole. He deeply appreciates the efforts of Kofi Annan and John Kufuor. Peace and prosperity in Kenya is direly important.