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There seems to be an emergence of actors coming to the big screen
via music. In the last few years, lots of rappers and singers have
made their way to Hollywood through their talent and marketability.
It wasn’t that long ago when actors were coming to LA via Broadway,
the place where talent is truly recognized. Danny Glover has known
for many years for his roles in the Lethal Weapon films and
countless others, but what folks don’t know or may not remember is
that he got his start in the business from doing theater. Just
about 20 years
ago, Danny Glover was a young man starring a play that would change
his career. That play was "Master Harold"… and the boys and
it was written by famed playwriter Athol Fugard. Glover has been
a supporter
of Fugard’s work throughout the years that he recently starred in
the film version of Fugard’s play Boesman and Lena with Angela Bassett
shortly after Fugard’s death. Presently, Glover is back in New York
City, on Broadway, once again in the play that brought him attention.
Aside from the poor acting of Christopher Denham, “Master Harold”…and
the boys, is worth seeing due to the command performances of Glover
and Boatman.
“Master Harold"... and the boys is the acclaimed
story about a young white man’s integral relationships with two
black men working for his family in South Africa during the 1950’s,
during the emergence of Apartheid. In the original production,
Glover played Willie,
the younger of the two black men, befriending Hally, the white
son his employers. In this revival, Glover plays Sam, the older
but wise employee. Michael Boatman of TV’s Spin City plays Willie
and newcomer Christpoher Denham plays Hally. Over the course of
an afternoon, Sam and Willie are working in St. Georges Tea Room,
when Hally comes in to “hang out” with them. As sits with the guys,
he fondly recalls that his best childhood memories were when he “hung
out” with the guys. It seems that Hally’s alcoholic father spent
no time with boy, now a teenager helping run the restaurant with
his mother while his ill and disabled father lays in a hospital.
Sam and Willie are practicing for a big ballroom dance when Hally
insults them by calling their dance “primitive” and “mentally retarded”.
He wants to educate them in the ways of Tolstoy and other things
he’s learned in school. When Hally’s mother calls in to check in
on him and the restaurant, Hally’s mood shifts towards to the worst
as his true feelings towards his father come out. When Sam tries
to reason with the teenager, Hally “summons” the guys back to work
and not to forget their place in society.
The performances given by Glover and Boatman are commanding. Glover,
as the elder of the two, captures your attention with his wise
and resigned role. Boatman doesn’t have much to do until the latter
half of the play when his supportive role kicks in. Denham is definitely
an attention grabbing for he has most of the lines, but his attempt
at speaking with a South African accent decreases his performance
to pity. It’s a bit distracting because when things are going good,
his poor accent sticks out. As with any good play, what stands
out is the dialogue. Director Lonny Price, who played Hally in
the original production, brings to light that although Aparthied
may be a thing of the past to some, human behavior and its effects
are still worth exploring. The production design is worth noting
for the way it present the tea room and its leather seats by the
counter and the sound of rain from the outside. “Master Harold” and
his boys is a play that should remind all that prejudice is still
existent in some when put in certain positions. |
