Robey Presents 'No Place To Be Somebody'

By Darlene Donloe

Charles Gordone once said his Pulitzer Prize winning three-act play, No Place To Be Somebody, was  “about country folk who had migrated to the big city, seeking the urban myth of success, only to find disappointment, despair and death.”

The play won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1970. It’s important to note that it was the first time the drama Pulitzer had gone to an African American.

Those “country folk” he spoke about come to life in the Robey Theatre Company’s production of the show, currently playing through May 8, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

No Place To Be Somebody is raw, it’s real, it’s unremorseful and it’s in-your-face.  Cordone obviously wrote it to make a point, to make the audience uneasy and, more importantly, to make the audience feel. It pulls back the curtain on a forgotten underbelly segment of society as they triumphantly and sometimes tragically, deal with everything from civil rights, acceptance, dreams deferred, race relations, power, mortality, morality and more.

This show is a classic. This was Gordone’s last theatrical installment. The original 1969 production comes some 47 years later and the gang’s all here.

There’s Johnny, Gabe, Sweets Crane, Shanty, Cora, Evie, Melvin Judge Bolton, Machine Dog, Dee, Sergeant Cappaletti, Mike Maffucci and Mary Lou.  All of them wear their flaws on their sleeves, but aren’t afraid to dream.

Some of those characters are aptly played by abled actors assembled by Director Ben Guillory.

The play takes place in Johnny’s Bar. 

Sammie Wayne IV

Johnny is the center of the show. He is played, superbly, by multiple NAACP Theatre Awards winner, Sammie Wayne IV. Johnny is a small time hood and pimp whose no-nonsense temperament is as scary as the underworld he lives in. If he has his way, Johnny, by any means necessary, will head his own black Mafia. He has pessimistically and pompously lived by the white man’s tyrannical laws – and has had enough!!! Wayne plays the role with eagerness, cockiness, sureness and a certain panache that makes Johnny most assuredly despicable, but at times, unnervingly appealing. Johnny, who is too cool for the room, recognizes his own charm.

“I rassle with light’nin, put a cap on a thunder! Set every mammy-jammer in the graveyard on a wonder! I grapple with lions! Put knots in they tails! Sleep on broken glass, an’ for breakfast, eat nails!  I’m a ba-a-a-d mother-for ya!”---Johnny Williams

For 10 years Johnny has been literally holding down the fort while his mentor, Sweets Crane (Hawthorne James), did time in prison.  Johnny has been waiting for the day when he and Sweets, who raised him like a son and taught him the ways of the streets, would reunite and build their criminal empire. Johnny wants to lay claim to their future – now! To do that he has to outmaneuver the white Mafia who has a stranglehold on the neighborhood.

(l-r) Leith Burke and Sammie Wayne IV

Johnny’s plans for world domination go awry after Sweets shows up sick and a skeleton of his former self. With a devastating medical diagnosis, Sweets wants no part of his former life. He’s content to live out his days without the drama and violence he once embraced. His attempt to reform Johnny fails miserably.

Hawthorne James as Sweets Crane

James (Five Heartbeats), a respected veteran thespian who easily engulfs a stage with his commanding presence, plays the role of Sweets in a surprisingly over the top performance that dilutes the character and throws the show off balance. Had Director Ben Guillory pulled the reigns, even slightly, on that interpretation, it would have saved the intent and made the character palatable.

Then there is the motley crew of regulars that frequent or work for the bar, who are unapologetically fractured, yet focused on individual dreams of something better for themselves.

Leith Burke

There is Gabe (Leith Burke/The Have and Have Nots) a hungry for life writer and actor, who also serves as the narrator for the show. His poignant speeches, which break the fourth wall, ties the show together  rhythmically. Burke waxes poetic effectively.

Cordone has conjured some colorful, well-defined characters whose thread of human existence is fragile, but still matters. Each character is allowed space to breathe as they work out their varied stories.  All have voices that have been unheard. All have aspirations that at moments in time, seemed unattainable.

(l-r) Sammie Wayne IV and Mary Lou Bolton

There is wide-eyed Cora (Kacie Rogers), who has her sights set on marriage and a bar worker named Shanty, who is Cora’s boyfriend, but would rather be playing the drums. Then there is a disillusioned hooker named Dee (Allison Blaize), who is the main woman in Johnny’s stable, but wants to marry him and get out of the life. Her friend and fellow hooker is Evie (Saadiqa-Kamille), who somehow makes it out of the life and into a job at IBM.  There is a ditsy sophisticate named Mary Lou Bolton (Allison Blaize), who is the daughter of a judge, but likes to get down and dirty. Melvin Smeltz (Matt Jennings) is a busboy who only wants to dance, while Machine Dog (Ray Dennis) is like the smoke monster on Lost. Mike Maffucci (Gianluca Malacrino) and Jude Bolton (Darrel Philip), play the Mafia – who want Johnny to curb his desire - so they can continue being the Mafia.

There are several themes coursing through this show.  It’s intense, dramatic, comedic, heartbreaking, unrequited and everything in  between. It’s the good, the bad and the ugly story about life and all of the melodrama that goes with it.

Cordone’s tome is poetic blues set to real world problems. It’s uneasy and uncomfortable. It’s much like a car wreck that you can’t help but watch play out.

Director Ben Guillory has assembled a solid cast headed by Sammie Wayne IV and Leith Burke, whose gutsy and hearty performances push the story forward.  There are also terrific performances from Kacie Rogers, Ben Landmesser and Matt Jennings.

(l-r) Sammie Wayne IV and Ray Dennis

While the well-paced show is somewhat dated, it still holds up, for the most part, under the temperate hand of Director Ben Guillory.   There are some moments when the show lags and there are some casting choices that bring a different texture to the show for anyone who has seen previous incarnations. 

Tom Meleck’s bar room set is stylish. Michael D. Ricks lighting, Naila Aladdin Sanders’ costumes and Julio Hanson’s music/sound design complete the production.

The Robey production of No Place To Be Somebody is a worthy opponent.

The cast includes: Sammie Wayne IV, Allison Blaize, Leith Burke, Hawthorne James, Matt Jennings, Saadiqa Kamillah, Gianluca Malacrino, Ray Dennis, Monty Montgomery, Darrell Phillip, Kacie Rogers, Ben Landmesser and Meghan Lang.

No Place To Be Somebody is written by Gordone and directed and produced by Ben Guillory. Presented by Robey Theatre Company in association with Los Angeles Theatre Center.

No Place To Be Somebody, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Theatre 4, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA  90013, 8 p.m., Thur.-Sat; 3 p.m. Sun. Also, 7 p.m., Mon., April 18. Through May 8; $20-$30; 866 811-4111 or www.thelatc.org.

Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, with one 10 minute intermission.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), No Place To Be Somebody gets an L (likeable).

Theodus Crane Goes 'Underground' As Zeke

Theodus Crane

By Darlene Donloe

If you’re not watching the television drama, Underground, on WGN America, you’re in the minority.  The original escape thriller, about the Underground Railroad, is killing it in the ratings and garnering praise from critics and audiences alike who are tuning in each Wednesday night to watch the story unfold.

The 10-episode, hour-long program follows a group of gutsy men and women determined to change their circumstances by attempting a courageous escape from slavery.

The group is lead by Noah (Aldis Hodge), a determined and headstrong blacksmith who organizes a small group of his fellow slaves and puts together a daring plan of escape across hundreds of miles to freedom. 

Underground stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Mykelti Williamson, Amirah Vann, Alano Miller, Marc Blucas, Jessica de Gouw, Christopher Meloni, Adina Porter, Chris Chalk, Jussie Smollett, Reed Diamond, Renwick Scott and Theodus Crane.

I recently caught up with Crane, who plays Zeke, to talk about the show and his character.

Theodus Crane, who is from Atlanta, is an actor who loves the stage and screen. Some of his projects include Christmas in Conway, The Bag Man, The Starving Games, and The Walking Dead. He has worked with Robert DeNiro, John Cusack and Andy Garcia. A diverse artist, he has also trained at the Groundlings Improv Program in Los Angeles.  Far from a slacker, Crane is also a fighter. He is learning Filipino knife and stick fighting. For kicks (pun intended) he trains in Judo, kickboxing, boxing, Filipino martial arts, and Sanda. He’s a two-time Amateur World Champion in the World Sanda League, winning his most recent title in July 2014.

DD:  How did you come to be involved with Underground?

TC: It was funny. I actually had just moved to LA two months prior. I got a stunt job back in New Orleans. I came back for that. My agent in New Orleans asked me my availability because there was a show that had some interest. Whenever I hear about a project, I do some research - as much as possible. I didn’t get a lot of info on the show, but I saw who was involved.  Joe [Pokaski] wrote for Daredevil. When I saw his name I was taken aback. And then I saw Akiva [Goldsmith]. That was all the info I had until I met with Anthony [Hemingway] to read for the part. It was this secretive project that had an interest in me. Next thing I know we’re in Baton Rouge shooting. It’s amazing being part of this. Everyone is amazing including the cast and crew. I still keep in touch with everyone. 

DD: Tell me about the audition process.

TC:  I came out to Baton Rouge with Anthony [Hemingway] and we read some sides. It was a quick and painless process. I hadn’t gotten all the information about the character leading into that. I didn’t know Zeke’s family life was what it was.  His baby died and the wife killed him. There was a lot of shock involved. Other than that – it was relatively painless.

DD: What was your initial thought when you heard about the show and got the script?

TC:  I was definitely curious. I thought it was a regular slave narrative. I thought it was the Roots remake. Once I read the script, I said, “OK, it might be interesting”. When I got the script it was nothing like I expected it to be..  Everything was done well. The story is so well done.

DD: Tell me about your character, Zeke. What do you like and what don’t you like about him?

TC: His resolve. There is a lot of drama in his life. He has a lot to overcome. A lot of the characters in this show are inspired by real people.  Even with sadness and grief, he still had to make a hard decision.  The one thing I didn’t like was that we didn’t get to a dialogue between him and his wife. I would have liked that to be a possibility. They tell the main aspects of that story. It’s TV. You have to be mindful of the entirety of the plot.

DD: When playing a role – do you have to like the character?

TC: You have to accept it. Realistically speaking there are people who don’t like themselves. That can translate and be part of what you bring to your character.

DD: Why is this show important?

TC:  Because this is an aspect of that part of history that isn’t told very much anymore. Growing up my family was into knowing our history. My famiy did that. Knowing that this is a part of American history – the plantation, the politics behind why people did what they did. Why you would help slaves run? What is the meaning of the Underground Railroad? What kept slavery alive so long in America? Things like that need to be discussed. You can see parallels and personality types in the show. You can see the mindset of some people that you run into today. You have to know the roots of the situation.

 Theodus Crane as Zeke

DD: Is it more important for white folks or black folks to see this show?

TC: I don’t think the color matters. Everyone should watch this show. That’s the issue. This is a show for America to watch. There needs to be less of a divide between the races in America if any real dialogue is going to occur. We have human issues, not color issues to deal with. Underneath it all, we’re all the same.

DD:  Are you actually watching the show each week?  If so, with whom?

TC:  I am watching. I’m watching at The Country Club in New Orleans. Me and a bunch of my friends watch. The Country Club has been so nice in accommodating us. We can all watch it together. I’m live tweeting while I’m there.

DD: What kind of feedback are you getting from people?

TC: Everybody has been blown away by the show. It has taken some people’s breath away.

DD: What do you say to people who say we’ve had enough slave movies?

TC:  I’ve heard some of that. The thing about it for me is - there are people who feel that way. I understand it. It’s been a story told a certain way for so long. It’s refreshing to see it another way.

DD: What does acting do for you?

TC: It’s a way to express myself and communicate artistically on a broader scale. I’ve been involved in several different mediums. I was a visual artist. I wanted to be an illustrator. As I got older it shifted. I got into music. But acting was the one thing I could do and actually make a living. I have a love and passion for it. It allows me to be passionate.

DD: You have a diverse background. You act. It’s obvious you like to fight. (He’s a two-time Amateur World Champion in the World Sanda League, winning his most recent title in July 2014). I understand you dance. (He has been known to ‘cut a rug’ with The 610 Stompers in New Orleans). You also do standup. What else do you want to accomplish in your career?

TC: Everything. I want everything. I want all of it. I want not to be limited by anything. The world is my oyster and I will indulge as I see fit.

Underground, which debuted March 9, is from creators and executive producers Misha Green and Joe Pokaski.   Academy Award® winner John Legend is also an executive producer. The show, which airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT on WGN America, concludes May 9.

Follow the series @UndergroundWGN -- #BreakFreeWGN

Kristen Bell Stars In 'The Boss,' Opening April 8

Kristen Bell

By Darlene Donloe

More than 15 years ago, while at the improve company, The Groundlings, Melissa McCarthy conjured up a character named Michelle who was a tough as nails, no-holds-barred, doesn’t have a filter business mogul, whose business acumen and rough exterior didn’t garner her any fans.

McCarthy bristles at the notion that her red-haired business maven is the female equivalent of GOP front runner Donald Trump.

On April 8, McCarthy’s alter ego, Michelle, makes her feature film debut in the comedy, The Boss, starring McCarthy, Kristin Bell, Peter Dinklage, Kathy Bates, Cecily Strong and McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone – who co-wrote (McCarthy, Steve Mallory) and directed the film. This is Falcone’s second time at the helm of a feature – the first being his wife’s 2015 film, Tammy.

(l-r) Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Bell

The premise of the film goes something like this. After her release from prison for insider trading, Michelle, a business mogul (Melissa McCarthy) must move in with a former employee (Kristen Bell) and the woman's daughter.  On a mission to rebrand herself and regain her millions, Michelle Darnell decides to compete with the cookie-selling Dandelions girl troop by selling some delicious brownies.   In the process, hilarity ensues.

I recently caught up with Kristin Bell at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills to talk about her role in the film. The perky actress, who is married to actor Dax Shepard, is perky and excited to talk about her latest celluloid excursion. She’s dressed, rather stylishly, in an orange dress and beige stilettos.

Q: You have a crazy boss in this film. You can’t get rid of her. Have you ever worked for someone who you thought was somewhat like her?

KB: No, I have not had a bad boss. If I did, maybe I blocked it out.

Q: How would you deal with someone like Michelle Darnell?

KB: I’m non-confrontational. If you offend me, I’d ignore it. I would deal with it in a similar to my character Claire. I’d deal with it and then have a breaking point. Big business people have big egos.

Q:  In this film you spent a lot of time playing the straight, concerned mom character. Which side of the comedic coin do you like to play?

KB:  I adore playing an energetic weirdo. My energetic weirdo is not as funny as Melissa’s energetic weirdo.  Comedy is in the imperfection. You need a straight man. I’m part of the joke being a straight man. I enjoy being a straight man against Melissa because she’s a comedic genius.

Q:  Have you ever had a mentor or been a mentor to someone?

KB: I don’t know that I’ve actively tried to mentor someone. I tried to live a life I could defend in a court of law. I’ve had a lot of mentors in my life - more than just one person. A lot of people I’ve learned from.

Q:  So many scenes you have to just stand there and take it. Which one was the toughest to keep straight face for.

KB: I would take it from Melissa anywhere anytime til the end of time. I love that woman so much. It would be the teeth-whitening scene.  She was shown a picture of a girlfriend getting it done. She wrote that scene. She had it in her mouth for two hours. Don’t know how she did it and her face didn’t go numb. When she inproved, I didn’t know what she was saying. I was biting the inside of my cheeks to keep from ruining it.

Kristen Bell

Q: Comedy is a boys club. Do you think Hollywood is changing?

Yeah, maybe I’m just an optimist. I don’t think it’s a boys club anymore. Tina (Fey), Amy (Poehler) Julia Louis Dreyfus, Amy Schumer, Sara Silverman, they all changed the game. I can name off more successful entrepreneurial comediennes than I can male comedians. That’s how it was for a long time. The tide is changing.

Q:  Regular world jobs - were you good?

KB: I’m not creative or talented enough to be a weirdo savant in daily life. I’m normal. I was good and average or above average. I’m a good rule follower. I have always taken direction for a living. I don’t buck the system. I worked at J.Crew and a yoga shop. I always did OK. I was a fine, average employee.

Q: In the movie you make a lot of brownies. How many brownies did you blow through while shooting this film?

KB: I made a commitment not to eat the brownies. They were appealing by the first seven days. By month two, when they were on the tray coming out of refrigerator, I was over it.

Q: You play a single mother in the film. Can you imagine being a single mother?

KB: I can try. Can I get accurate about what they face, I don’t know. My mom was a single mom. When I got older, she shared her hardships and struggles. I suppose I can imagine. Child rearing is difficult. It has pros and cons. Doing it alone, I think probably isn’t fun. I see why they say it takes a village. Don’t know how I’d do it without a support system. They are super women.

Q: Were you a Girl Scout?

KB: I was a Brownie for a couple of years. It was great. Perfect after school activity.

Q: Melissa’s character is self-confident. As a mother of two young girls, what important things should parents do to raise strong females?

KB: What I’m learning is that both my kids are different. One piece of advice doesn’t work for everyone. Some are born with high self-esteem and some aren’t. I say do whatever your child needs for them to blossom. I’m raising my girls to be unique. If you’re unique you’re irreplaceable. If you fall in line, you’re just one of millions. It’s more fun to walk through life like that.

(l-r) Kristen Bell and Melissa McCarthy

Q: How do you balance being a helicopter parent with being a free range parent?

KB: Well, for me it’s 50 percent instinct ad 50 percent what I’ve read. I’ve disregarded some and some books I’ve loved. I think that your kids can have an infinite amount of friends, but only two parents ever. It’s important to be a friend but more important for me to be a mom. It’s important for them to do things on their own. I want my girls to fall and fail. I want them to know what failure and success feel like.

Q:  Brownies are in the movie. Is there a sweet specialty you make at home?

KB: I make zucchini muffins. We don’t do a lot of sugar. Kids are insane on sugar. So am I, so is my husband. We try to stay clear of sugar. Zucchini muffins. They are a great bargaining chip. It’s how I get them to get ready in the morning. It’s a great reward.

  

The Boss, Rated R (Universal), opens nationwide April 8, 2016.