| Show Ingram portrays Robeson at dinner theatre theatre Norbert Bensch Staff aff Writer EW stud students remember remember remember FEW F ber the th great Paul Robeson His films of the and rarely make the rerun circuit on late night television any more Yet this mountainous black man has secured a place in American history and through his celebrity focused his country's attention on the plight of black Americans Remembering Paul Robeson essentially a one-man one show was sponsored by CAB as a dinner theater presentation in the College Center Fe Featuring Featuring tur ing Robert W. W Ingram Jr in inthe inthe inthe the title role the evening was both musical and theatrical Mr Robeson was a barrier breaker Born in 1898 to a minister father and schoolteacher schoolteacher schoolteacher school school- teacher mother he rebelled against schoolmasters who encouraged black students to leave school in favor of the working world He demanded an education and eventually enrolled as one of the first blacks at Rutgers University Fighting against racism both explicit and imp implicit he b became became be be- came the schools school's first black football player and earned honors as an All American He later practiced law before gaining fame as a asinger a asinger singer and actor Through the course of his career his reputation grew to match his stature with plays including The Emperor Jones Porgy Showboat Othello an and d dJohn John Henry Hem He also became one of Americas America's first black film stars with The Emperor Jones Show Boat King Solomons Solomon's Mines Proud Valley The Song of Freedom and Native Na Na- Native tive Land Robeson's career suffered for his outspoken political opinions and waned after he was asked to testify before the House Committee on Un- Un American Activities After 1942 this first black American to play Othello was credited with only one movie and one play until his death in 1976 Ingrams Ingrains performance which began twice due to distractions distractions distractions dis dis- dis- dis tractions from flash lash photographers photographers photographers raphers was impressive While it it-is it is impossible to act acta a voice that is known for its depth and power Ingram sang with strength and surety This was no small accomplishment accomplishment accomplishment ac ac- ac- ac in a performance performance mance of nearly two hours' hours duration He also evoked sincere sincere sincere sin- sin cere emotion from the audience with several moving passages about relationships with his father and brothers The production did wear wearon wearon wearon on but in analyzing content its it's difficult to say which portions portions por por- should have been eliminated with a life of such breadth More varied musical pacing and a shortened second act may be two places to shave minutes Whether i L f f I I t t ii t 1 L I l 1 4 5 f Ij 1 4 s t f Photo by Ed Lite Ue Robert W. W Ingram portrays the late actor in in Remembering Paul Robeson due to the chara character ter or to the excellent performance of pf Ingram Ingram In In- gram the appreciative audience remained attentive throughout It would be presumptuous to say that a theatre event can give a predominately white audience an understanding understanding-of of the black experience However However How How- ever in Remembering Paul Robeson those who attended may have gained a valuable insight |
