James Brown performed two hundred times at the Apollo
Theatre and when he died, his body lay in state on its stage. It’s only fitting
that
James Brown: Get on the Good Foot premiered here. The Rev. Al
Sharpton, who knew James Brown, introducing the show said classical music is
all about “the four B’s”: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Brown.
A huge dance company and various choreographers give
expression to every facet of James Brown, from the romantic, to the political,
to the humorous.
“I Got You (I
Feel Good)” is a dance party in platform shoes, bell bottoms, and big afros.
It’s absolutely delightful. One of the dancers portrays a sharply-dressed geezer
on a cane, carrying and drinking from a “big cup”— something Mayor Bloomberg
has tried to ban.
“It’s a Man’s World” was so unexpected danced by a white,
female, hip-hop artist, Ephrat Asherie. The political James Brown was there in another strong dance, choreographed by Abdel Salaam, to "Payback," which
segued into "Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud."
Few of the dances used James Brown dance steps as he danced
them. Balletic twirls and lifts are substituted when we would sometimes rather
be watching a man in a bespoke suit. Considering how many strippers have
performed to James Brown, it might not be inappropriate to have one dance kind
of like that. Yet, if
James Brown: On the Good Foot were to travel the
country, the Tea Party would probably be converted to the notion of democracy.
It is doubtful that any theatre would have the impact and
impressive acoustics that the Apollo has. Entering the Apollo beneath the brilliant marquee, to
the sound of James Brown’s music, the audience was dancing in the aisles and in
their seats. The Apollo has announced that there will be many more
commemorative solo shows about musicians in its amazing history that transformed the world.
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| Chez Lucienne vol-au-vent (or chicken pot pie) |
|
Are we in Harlem – or are we in Paris? Bistro Chez
Lucienne’s menus are
really French:
croque monsieur on the prix fixe lunch
and
croque madame for brunch. Mussels
and frittes are served three ways. Vol-au-vent in wine sauce (pictured) is as tasty as it looks. It’s a well-managed restaurant with
first-rate French chefs creating classic dishes. The owner named the restaurant
after his mother in France. On Friday and Saturday if you order between midnight and 2 a.m. there’s
50% off. Jazz and R&B greats are regulars. Wearing G-clef earrings, Bobbi Humphrey was
there when we were one evening.
