Written by | Ray Cornelius
I had the pleasure of attending and covering this weekend’s premiere of True Colors Theatre Company’s production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize winning dramedy, “Between Riverside and Crazy.” It’s currently playing now through August 6 at the Southwest Arts Center.
Ex-cop Walter “Pops” Washington has had enough. His landlord won’t leave him alone, his wife re-cently passed away, and the liquor store can’t keep up with his thirst. Pops’ last living relative, his son Junior, has recently moved back to Pops’ house with his girlfriend, Lulu, and his newly-sober buddy, Oswaldo. With his heels dug into the floor of his rent-controlled Riverside Drive apartment, Pops holds onto old wounds — physical and emotional – while he sweats out the impending verdict on his lawsuit against the NYPD. Pressure reaches a boiling point when an ultimatum comes from an unlikely source, pinning Pops squarely “Between Riverside and Crazy.”
The show features iconic TV and film star Earl Billings as Pops along with Diany Rodriguez, Keith Arthur Bolden, Jerri Tubbs, Cristian Gonzalez, Andrew Benator and AnnaMaria Dvorak. This Atlanta performance is directed by TV and stage actor Eric J. Little.
“Between Riverside and Crazy” is a play that is absolutely necessary for the times and is serious as it is funny. It touches on a myriad of all too familiar “isms” such as racism and classism along with discrimination, police brutality against African-American men, family issues and death. While it is a show that everyone needs to see, it is not for those under the age of 18. There is a lot of adult language and some sexual situations. Please be advised!
Check out the photos below of the cast along with Kenny Leon and his True Colors Theatre Company staff. You can also listen to my #UPFRONT interview with Eric J. Little and Keith Arthur Bolden that took place over the weekend:
Keith Arthur Bolden + Eric J. Little + Byron Horne of the Horne Brothers
A beautiful painting of the High Priestess of Soul – NINA SIMONE
TC’s former Managing Director Jenn McEwen +
TC’s Production Manager Lisa Watson
Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington with Andrew Benator
Eric J. Little with Jerri Tubbs
Patrons enjoying food after the show
Michael Winn with Diany Rodriguez
Atlanta TV and stage actress Tinashe Kajese-Bolden
A painting with the names of African-Americans killed by White police officers
Kenny Leon with former Managing Director Jenn McEwen and her husband
Click here for tickets and see you there!
Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com