Page 14 - aruba-today-20201002

a14 people & arts
Friday 2 OctOber 2020
‘Boys in the Band’ movie keeps hurtful language of original

By JOHN CARUCCI he was very shocked dur-
Associated Press ing rehearsals when the
NEW YORK (AP) — Revisit- words were said, but the
ing Mart Crowley's seminal weight of them hit once he
1968 play, "The Boys in the took the stage.
Band," in a new movie ad- "I heard a guttural gasp
aptation on Netflix privies the first time one of these
viewers to both the early slurs was used that I re-
struggles of the gay com- membered and realized
munity and the offensive, how powerful they really
hurtful language of the era. are. And I think that was
While some of those gay a good reminder always
and racial slurs were hard when doing it live. The au-
to speak, Jim Parsons and dience kind of reminded us
the cast believe it was nec- of how potent those words
essary to use words now were and are," Bomer said.
considered unspeakable As Bernard, the only Black
to both honor Crowley's member of the group,
dialogue, as well as make actor Michael Benjamin
the audience feel the dis- Washington believes the
comfort of the marginaliza- language, though painful,
tion of the gay community is necessary to be truthful
at the time. and authentic.
Crowley's story follows a This image released by Netflix shows, from left, Jim Parsons, Robin De Jesus, Michael Benjamin "If you're setting a play
group of men and takes Washington and Andrew Rannells in a scene from "The Boys in the Band." Associated Press in 1968 and you have a
place a year before the Black character and we're
historic Stonewall riots in ach going into it," Parsons to talk this way and see the lieves there's a responsibility gonna pretend like he's
New York's Greenwich Vil- told The Associated Press in hurt that it causes," Parsons to reflect the original story not black, then you're not
lage neighborhood that a recent interview. said. Director Joe Mantello, and time period. telling the truth. Just as if I
solidified the gay liberation Though uncomfortable, who also helmed the play, "My responsibility is to the wrote a play about 2020,
movement. Parsons realized it was more agrees that keeping the story. And the story is: This but Black Lives Matter
Parsons, whose character, important to embrace it offensive language helps the cost of oppression, it doesn't happen," Washing-
Michael uses a fair share of than ignore. understand the story and allows you to act in a way ton said.
the racial, gay, and anti- "The sad part, I guess, is that plight of the characters. that is inhumane," Mantel- Crowley's story depicts an
Semitic slurs, admits he was because of what we're "I do not believe the era- lo said. "And I felt in order unapologetic perspective
uncomfortable. talking about, that's kind of sure of things that make us to be honest to that, that of the lives of eight men,
"It's ugly. And none of those the point. And you kind of uncomfortable is progress," you're true to that, that it and the straight friend that
words were ever uttered have to go there to under- Mantello said. was essential that we keep unexpectedly shows up at
by me without a severe stand how a moment like The offensive language it." a birthday party to help
amount of trepidation and that happens and where — was not kept to cause Matt Bomer, who plays Mi- "normalize" the community.
a sick feeling in your stom- why is this character willing pain, he said. Mantello be- chael's friend, Donald, says The original play was a
hit, and two years later
Last solo recording of jazz icon Dave Brubeck to be released became a critically ac-
claimed film. That same
trajectory followed with
a Tony-winning revival on
By RUSSELL CONTRERAS playing in nightclubs and the cow- Broadway.
Associated Press boy jazz bands he joined as a kid,” Parsons says Crowley wrote
RIO RANCHO, N.M, (AP) — Nearly Brubeck said. “Even though this may a story that "resonates for
eight years after his death, the final seem like a stretch when I hear this all of humanity" because it
solo recording of late American jazz particular performance, it just slays can apply to anyone that's
pianist legend Dave Brubeck is set for me because there’s just so much un- felt "othered and side-
release next month. Verve Records believable wisdom in each of his fin- lined and distained in way
announced last week that “Lullabies” gers, how he approaches the notes shape or form."
— a collection of intimate standards and the touch.” The latest release "I think you don't need to
often played for children — will be includes an interpretation of George be gay at all to identify
available Nov. 6 in the latest effort by Gershwin’s “Summertime” from the and be moved by what
a label to preserve unreleased jazz 1935 opera Porgy and Bess, the 1913 you see," Parsons said.q
recordings. “Dave was mainly think- “Danny Boy,” and “Over the Rain-
ing of it as a sort of documentation bow” from the 1939 film “The Wizard In this July 2, 1961, file photo, Dave Solution Sudoku
and gift for immediate family and of Oz.” It also contains original pieces Brubeck, the American Jazz musician,
some close family friends,” said Chris he wrote for his longtime wife, Iola, and his 13-year-old son Christopher,
Brubeck, his son, who is also a jazz and an interpretation of “When It’s also a musician, arrive at London Airport,
musician and plays multiple instru- Sleepy Time Down South” by Fats United Kingdom, from New York.
ments but mainly electric bass and Waller. Dave Brubeck would say Associated Press
trombone. And there the recordings the first record he ever bought was mond and summer Joe Morello with
would have stayed until someone at by Waller. Brubeck is largely cred- Brubeck’s piano serving as a narra-
Verve Records heard a song for the ited for helping spark the Cool Jazz, tor and bassist Eugene Wright add-
collection and thought it would be or West Coast Jazz, movement. The ing a scene. The classically-trained
great to make it available to the pub- 1959 “Take Five” hit recorded by the Brubeck used exotic meters he had
lic, the younger Brubeck said. Dave Brubeck Quartet is a solo bat- heard overseas to deviate from the
“He knew thousands of songs from tle between saxophonist Paul Des- regular 4/4 time.q Puzzle on Page 13