'The Amen Corner' by James Baldwin In 1953 leading Afrcian American writer and civil rights activist, James Baldwin produced his first novel, 'Go Tell It On The Mountaintop'. This powerful tale of a black evangelist and his family, introduced this budding new talent with a distinctive voice to the world. The following year he followed this with his first play, 'The Amen Corner', again using the world of the black church (which he himself grew up within) as the backdrop for the story, and although it would eventually take 10 years before this work would reach the American stage, the passage of time did nothing to diminish the powerful message and emotion contained within this striking piece of work, as is demonstrated in the current revivial being staged at London's National Theatre.
This excellent production is superbly led by the gifted British actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste (best known for her Oscar nominated turn in Mike Leigh's 1996 film 'Secrets & Lies' and for her ongoing role as FBI agent Vivian Johnson on the long running American TV show 'Without A Trace') who plays Margaret Alexander, a pastor of a small church in 1950's Harlem. This leading light of the community lives with her son, David (Eric Kofi Abrefa) and her sister Odessa (Sharon D Clarke) and portrays her absolute love and loyalty to God for all to see and follow as a leading example of how to live your life. However David, after years of being sheltered from the outside world and its temptations, now as a young man is finding the call to venture beyond particularly alluring, in no small part due to the hot jazz music being heard all around him. He finds himself torn between his God fearing mother and her lessons of life and his own secret ambitions to become a musician. At this critical point of time David's long gone father Luke (Lucian Msamati), a hard drinking, trombone jazz player who we assume abandoned his family reappears, now seriously ill and professing his love for Margaret. What follows causes the pastor to face some long-hidden home truths and re-evaluate her whole life, not to mention the effect it takes on her congregation. Several lives change direction due to revelations uncovered.
This excellent production is superbly led by the gifted British actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste (best known for her Oscar nominated turn in Mike Leigh's 1996 film 'Secrets & Lies' and for her ongoing role as FBI agent Vivian Johnson on the long running American TV show 'Without A Trace') who plays Margaret Alexander, a pastor of a small church in 1950's Harlem. This leading light of the community lives with her son, David (Eric Kofi Abrefa) and her sister Odessa (Sharon D Clarke) and portrays her absolute love and loyalty to God for all to see and follow as a leading example of how to live your life. However David, after years of being sheltered from the outside world and its temptations, now as a young man is finding the call to venture beyond particularly alluring, in no small part due to the hot jazz music being heard all around him. He finds himself torn between his God fearing mother and her lessons of life and his own secret ambitions to become a musician. At this critical point of time David's long gone father Luke (Lucian Msamati), a hard drinking, trombone jazz player who we assume abandoned his family reappears, now seriously ill and professing his love for Margaret. What follows causes the pastor to face some long-hidden home truths and re-evaluate her whole life, not to mention the effect it takes on her congregation. Several lives change direction due to revelations uncovered.
'Luke' and 'Margaret' battle in 'The Amen Corner' This three act drama, delivered on a two tiered stage offers an intoxicatiing combination of speech and music. The dramatic tension is wonderfully offset with moments of great hilarity, especially with the interaction between the church going brothers and sisters. Particular mention should go to Sister Moore (Cecilia Noble) who took pride in telling everybody "no man had ever touched her!" Indeed the scenes in the church felt so vivid and real, you got the impression some of the exchanges Baldwin had written were taken from his own real life church going experiences. These scenes were vital as they showed the 'inner world' these God fearing people inhabited that insulated them from the harsh realities of being black in post-war America.
The cast displayed their versatility with the bible thumping, soul stirring gospel singing throughout. The uplifting joyous sounds penetrated the auditorium and you could feel the spirit moving among the audience, generating the feeling that at any moment somebody may jump up and yell out "Testify!!" Although my only knowledge of Ms Jean-Baptiste is as an excellent actress, she showed me she also has quite a capable singing voice. Indeed her presence in this very worthy production is mighty and adds weight. When she wails and cries out, we feel the turmoil and pain within her soul. When praising the Lord, you believe every word she utters. Ms Jean-Baptiste gave a great performance and was admirably supported by a stellar group of players. All involved, including director Rufus Norris should be proud of what they have accomplished and I feel it would bring joy to the late, great James Baldwin knowing his first effort as a playwright is still being seen, and thought of as relevant by audiences 60 years after it was first published.
The run for 'The Amen Corner' ends shortly. If you can, see this great show.
Here is a clip of some member of the cast of 'The Amen Corner' (including Marianne Jean-Baptisite) talking about the production:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6rQPB1fzfc
The cast displayed their versatility with the bible thumping, soul stirring gospel singing throughout. The uplifting joyous sounds penetrated the auditorium and you could feel the spirit moving among the audience, generating the feeling that at any moment somebody may jump up and yell out "Testify!!" Although my only knowledge of Ms Jean-Baptiste is as an excellent actress, she showed me she also has quite a capable singing voice. Indeed her presence in this very worthy production is mighty and adds weight. When she wails and cries out, we feel the turmoil and pain within her soul. When praising the Lord, you believe every word she utters. Ms Jean-Baptiste gave a great performance and was admirably supported by a stellar group of players. All involved, including director Rufus Norris should be proud of what they have accomplished and I feel it would bring joy to the late, great James Baldwin knowing his first effort as a playwright is still being seen, and thought of as relevant by audiences 60 years after it was first published.
The run for 'The Amen Corner' ends shortly. If you can, see this great show.
Here is a clip of some member of the cast of 'The Amen Corner' (including Marianne Jean-Baptisite) talking about the production:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6rQPB1fzfc
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