ms jones, i presume

I took a Sunday afternoon off from the Big D to catch a matinee show of Sarah Jones' Bridge & Tunnel during what was slated to be its last weekend on Broadway. Not only does Jones adopt a panoply of ethnic American voices, but she embodies her characters in a way that makes you forget that she's just switched a coat or a hat, or put on a pair of sunglasses. You really feel as if you are viewing different characters. I thought perhaps Jones would remind me of Anna Deveare Smith, whose Fires in the Mirror and Twilight: Los Angeles had captivated me some years ago. But Jones has a style all her own. Smith calls herself a "repeater" as she interviews people and sort of repeats their voices and gestures, their overall personas really. But Jones combines body and voice, humor and tragedy in a way that is original, refreshing and quite brilliant.

One of my favorite sketches is when Jones enlivens a Chinese woman named Mrs. Ling. She talks about the struggle she's had to accept her daughter's lesbianism. Mrs. Ling's daughter finds out her lover's work visa didn't come through and she will be deported. Jones takes that storytelling moment to remind us that had that been a heterosexual pairing, the couple could have married, but that same gender loving people do not have such an option. I can't possibly summarize it as well as Jones performs it, but it was quite moving and political without beating the audience over the head with a gay marriage banner.

The good news is that B & T has been extended at Helen Hayes Theatre so if you haven't seen it, go ... now. This young, talented sista deserves all the support and acclaim she's gotten so far and even more.

countdown to wha?!

"In 14 days, I am going away," the Queen Bee confesses directly to the camera. The forebodance in her voice is veiled by her attempt to remain poised, to present a carefully constructed persona to her fans. The "strong," streetwise Bella Mafia may be down but she ain't out. If anyone can hold it down while locked up, she can ... she can.

March 9 marked the first episode of BET's "Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown." Now while I'm not a fan of BET's programming (actually I'm wondering when they'll feature a remake of Amos 'n Andy), I couldn't miss witnessing the last 14 days of Lil' Kim's "freedom."

The premiere episode was rather chaotic. Kim and her staff are busy preparing for the release of her most recent album Naked Truth and the videos that will accompany it. Kim's doing appearances, ranting about how much she hates the video for her first single and greeting fans. The signature moment in this first episode is when a young fan of Kim's hands her a note to read in her limo. So touched by this young girl's admiration of her, Kim calls the girl's cellphone. I'm not saying all this affect is for the camera's benefit ... but I'm not saying it isn't either.

While I'm skeptical about the "realness" of "reality tv" in general, it will be interesting to see if Lil' Kim's show offers any insight into a woman I think is quite fascinating. I've always wondered about what lies beneath all the makeup, the hair, the plastic surgery... What's Lil' Kim's story? Really. And how might that story impact her young blackgirl fans in a different way than rapping about money, fame and fucking does? Maybe we'll find out. I'll certainly stay tuned.

hollyhood

I watched a bit of the Oscar's last night. I find most of the show extremely boring and usually tune in for the "big" categories--lead and supporting actors/actresses, best film and also big for me, documentaries and foreign films (I'm happy that the South African Film Tsotsi won best foreign though I haven't had a chance to catch it yet; also didn't see March of the Penguins but love that the Frenchies brought their stuffed penguins on stage).

I missed 36 Mafia's heart-wrenching rendition of "It's hard out here for a pimp." Don't worry, I'll live. I find it interesting and disappointing that the only African American contender for an award this year played a pimp turned rapper. Admittedly, I haven't seen Hustle and Flow and don't know if I'm that interested. The plot to me is unoriginal and really not that compelling. Now a black transexual from the hood--that would be something different wouldn't it? (shot out to Felicity)

Speaking of sexual transgressions at the Oscar's, I am sorely disappointed that Crash beat out Brokeback. Having seen both films, I didn't find Crash all that deep really and certainly not as visually stunning as Brokeback. I guess the theme of racial "tolerance" (a word I really hate) in Crash reached those viewers who are clueless about racial difference and perhaps don't know that they should treat people kindly. I don't know, but I do know that Ang Lee is the new king of film. You go Ang!