Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
So much talent
Friday in the late afternoon there was a notice on my phone showing singer Cynthia Erivo performing at the Kennedy Center Honors program. I watched her sing “Alfie” on my little screen and I had goosebumps during her performance. Jan and I had missed the show the night before, but we quickly found it on demand. We spent the next two hours in awe at the talented people that were being honored. The honors went to Dionne Warwick, Renee Fleming, Queen Latifah, Billy Crystal, and Barry Gibb.
First up was Dionne Warwick. At age 83 she still looks regal. The people selected to honor her sang her iconic songs. Once again, the music called up memories of how the songs made me feel back in the day. It’s been a while since I’ve heard these tunes. The biggest hits for me came during my college days, back in the 60’s. She has been celebrated and awarded many times over. Like many prominent people of color, she has been active in the Civil Rights movement.
Jan and I thoroughly enjoyed the praise poured on the other honorees. Each of them was lauded by a prominent public figure lucky enough to share a friendship with them. We heard a wonderful combination of hip hop, pop, and classical music, and watched some touching tributes given from the stage of the Kennedy Center. The cameras surveyed the audience made up of many familiar and famous faces. All in all it was a wonderful feel-good occasion – a great alternative to the news and live TV shows these days.
While we were watching, our friend, Reverend Diane called to catch up with us and to give us a strong recommendation. She had been to see the new movie, “The Color Purple”, that premiered on Christmas Day. She advised us to run, not walk, to the nearest movie theater for an experience that we would love. She knows us well enough to know that this movie would be moving and meaningful to us. As soon as I could, I went to my Fandango app to see where it was playing. It is showing at a theater about a mile from the house. As I read the times to Jan, the earliest being 9 AM, she said we should not waste any time, and get ourselves to the early morning performance. I bought the tickets and we were set.
Alice Walker wrote this book in 1982 and it won a Pulitzer prize in 1983. The first movie was made and released in 1985. I have watched it several times. It is such compelling story of grief and abuse and a love that survived separation from loved ones for decades. It has brought me to tears every time. Somehow I was gifted a ticket to the Broadway production of the musical version. I’m pretty sure that in the 2000’s my daughter, Jackie, was the ticket source of this powerful live performance featuring Fantasia Burano as Celie. She doesn’t remember this, but I’m pretty sure. I have been listening to the sound track ever since.
Yesterday morning we got up, had breakfast, and went out to the earliest time we’ve ever been to a movie in our lives. The theater was almost empty, except for five other women scattered around the small space. For the next two + hours we were mesmerized by one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Fantasia plays her familiar role of Celie, a woman who endured domestic violence and sexual abuse for most of her life. Taraji P. Henson plays Shug Avery, a woman who loved Celie as she had never been loved before.
The music and choreography are breathtaking. The acting shocked us at times with its intensity and realism. The story line follows the book and the original movie. But it was done so beautifully that it was like watching it for the very first time. I’m not a film critic or a movie reviewer but I strongly advise you to see this gorgeous film.
So this weekend has been full of the opportunities to witness great talent in action. Both the Kennedy Center Honors and “The Color Purple” were soul affirming of the good that humanity is capable of. It is such a contrast to so much discord in the world and reminded me that optimism and belief in what we are able to accomplish is equally as important.