Ghostwalk 2008 - Keys to the Past Critique

KEYS TO THE PAST – BEFORE
Lessons in Truth, Equality and Unity: Today’s Accountability
A review by Heidi Gilberte

KEYS TO THE PAST - BEFORE revolved around the Native Indigenous Peoples’ perspective before White/European contact and quickly moved through several centuries of history highlighting specific local characters and persons involved in the growth of the area. As with all “theatrical” representations, some people and figures were beautifully created as composite characters who shared the lessons and truths of their lives reflecting how their experiences had the opportunity to shape and change our contemporary futures. The lines that reverberate in my mind still were engrained by the characters Sophie and Emanuel, “servants and/or enslaved people” during a time of change in our country. Emanuel said, “Each man and woman, learns their own lessons from their pasts and chooses to move forward…” Sophie adds, “…or remains in the misery of their past.” This profound statement has a universal commentary, one that is so representative of where we are as a country today.

Native South Carolinian (correction Native New Yorker) Kubbi, now a resident of New York, returned to Gaffney for her second year as a member of 20 the “KEYS” cast. Her portrayal of Sophie, “the faithful servant of the Gaffney family (as stated on her actual tombstone) “was truthful, sincere, and was punctuated by her no-nonsense candor. Sophie was the only black American member of the United Methodist Church during her lifetime and she lived with the Gaffney family her professional career. Kubbi’s performance was rich, steady, and confident.

WBAI Radio Performance

I am still performing with The Theater for the New City where I play an angel and a mother. This past Monday August 4, 2008, I sang live on the Radio station WBAI for the Play "It's the Economy, Stupid" or The Turning Point. The show can be heard on www.catradiocafe.com. You can hear me leading the mother's song. I also am gearing up to meet a top manager - Bob Luke. My North Carolina Agent set it up. The coincidence about him is Theater for the New City was his first booking when he came to New York back in 1981. So I am definately in a great place. I will call him on Monday, August 11th, he asked to meet up with me before he comes to see the show in September. So keep praying for me. I will keep you posted to what is next.

Upcoming shows and schedule

Come and see me at the South Street Seaport playing Princess Full Moon in Lost Treasure with the Montauk Theatre, June 14, 2008 @ 1pm at the Space Gallery on the Corner of Front and Beekman and at 3pm on Pier 17 for Children's Week.

Then come see me with the Theatre for the New City in "It's the Economy Stupid" - Running Every Weekend throughout the City Starting August 2nd all shows in Manhattan Locations start at 2pm at
Sat - Aug 2nd @TNC, East 10th Street @ 1st Ave.
Sun. Aug. 3rd 2pm at Jackie Robinson Park;
Sat. - Aug. 9th @ 2pm Tompkins Square park at E. 7th and Ave A.
Sun - Aug. 17th Central Park Bandshell, 72nd Street Crosswalk
Sat - Sept, 6th Wise Towers at W. 90th St. Between Columbus & Amsterdam
Sun - Sept. 7th Washington Square Park
Final Show in Manhattan Sun. Sept. 14th @ St. Marks Church E. 10th St @ 2nd Ave

3 Brooklyn Locations:
Sun. Aug 10th 2pm Herbert Von King Park at Marcy and Tompkins
Fri - Aug. 15th 8pm Coney Island Boardwalk at W. 10th St.
Aug. 23rd 2pm at Prospect Park Concert Grove

1 Bronx Location - Aug. 16th St. Mary's Park at 147th St. @ St. Ann's Ave.

1 Staten Island Location - Sept. 13th 2pm - Sobel Court & Bowen Street

1 Queens Location - Travers park, 34th Ave Between 77th and 78th Streets

Theatre for the New City

Got a Call back for next week. Very excited. Also just found out one of my good friends has started her own production company. The launch is being held at 320 studios June 27th 9pm. I am so excited for her. Congrats Marie.

New audition

I have an audition tomorrow for Theater for the New City. It is for their street tour. I'm going to have to sing and do improv. That is pretty simple. So hopefully I will have good news to report. This is an award winning theatre company so that will be excellent to be apart of it. The name of the play is "It's the Economy, Stupid." It is for their street tour aound NYC. So when I book it, it should keep me occupied until September. Then it is off to North Carolina to do Butterfly Wings again.

Henry the VI part III

Well, It has been awhile since my last post. Since then I played in Henry the VI part III that was great. Where I played Queen Margaret. I like playing Queens I could definately get used to it.

Titus Andronicus

I was casted as Tamora Queen of the Goths in Titus Andronicus. The performance took place at the Inwood Library in the Bronx. The show was a success. Everyone did very well. A lot of people complimented me on the way I played the evil Queen. I was glad that I made the character come alive. I am now getting ready to play Queen Margaret in Henry the IV part III. I am so excited to be getting these large roles. I really never thought that I would be given the opportunity to play these roles because they are usually casted by my caucasion counterparts. I am glad to see diversity finally getting through to some theatre companies.

New Year - New Seeds to Plant

I started traveling again to auditions - Just got back from Atlanta, Auditioning for the Alliance Theater- invitation only. I believe it went well. I also drove up to Connecticut and auditioned for Triarts production of Aida, I got a call back for February 10th. I'm happy about that and now tomorrow I am headed to Philly to audition for an Industrial. Prayerfully I book very soon. I am looking forward to this year. This will be a prosperous year for me. Even though money is tight, I barely have enough headshots left to go around, I still have good friends who are willing to help me out. I'll keep you posted.

Critics' Choice - Ghostwalk 2007

The critic from the Ghostwalk 2007 has received complaints about her critic and here is what she emailed the director after the complaints.

Kubbi Boone is a very talented young lady. Her voice is amazing; especially all those tours in that humid SC night air! She tackled some very difficult material, ( you are a dialogue sadist!) and she rose to the occasion with power. She attacked the dialogue which she knew she had a problem with and that is what I saw, not inability. I understand the misgivings about the lines. Hell Chris, you fell all over yours and you wrote them! But as I said, one dismisses that because of the function and event. As an audience, we suspend our disbelief because we want to walk into that theatrical fantasy world and be entertained. But you took it a step further and actually taught the spectators. Kubbi made an excellent co-host and balanced your presence and Bridget made you an exceptional first Lieutenant. These women should be commended for their commitment “to the cause!”

Ghostwalk 2007

This is Ghostwalk 2007, in Gaffney, South Carolina in the Oakland Cemetary.
I am playing Sister Serina a Creole/Gullah Woman.
I enjoyed playing this character it was very challenging. Big Brotha Chris from CHS Associates casted me in this role and I am so glad he did. We didn't have any real rehearsal time but considering the short notice. We all did a banging job. Chris was great as our humble leader. We were critiqued in the local paper. I guess for the lack of prep time the critic stated what she thought about my performance. Here are the quotes from the first night performance.

CHAPS GHOSTWALK –
BEST SHOW IN THE PIEDMONT
A review – Rosie Browne Jackson

Just when you think you are about to enter the garden, the empowered voice of New Yorker, Kubbi Boone is heard singing His Eye is on the Sparrow. Her “Sister Serena” Gullah/Creole “Native holy woman” is ebullient. There are a few uncertainties with lines but that is dismissed by her joyful and spiritual, faith-based presence.

Susannah explains the story of her father’s murder with tested and tempered resolve as she, like her mother, maintains her composure. She summarizes the story by explaining the political vestiges of their day compared to our present time. It is followed up by a commentary on slavery by Sister Serina (Boone,) whose discomfort and lack of confidence with the dialogue is apparent, but effective.

I wasn't sure how to take this critique but of course I had to get over myself and realize that it is not for my ego but for me to learn from it and know that all things work together for the good.

Here is a response from the general public. A lady stopped me in the grocery store tonight and asked me all kinds of questions about it and then realized I was Hotah. She just gushed about our show and she said specifically, “Wherever did you find that adorable and beautiful little girl with the powerful voice? You tell her that she moved many of us and we feel so fortunate to have her come and share her gifts with us.”

My director explained his theory about the critic like this: Kubbi got a wonderful review. It is always imperative to look at the sub-text of what the reviewer says. I thought the same thing but the “breaking of accent convention” played very well. I spoke with Rosie after she emailed me the review, the day she sent it to the papers. She has been writing and reviewing for over 30 years and did, in her earlier days, teach acting and theatre history. She only had one small conflict with Kubbi’s performance and that was the monologue about the slaves in SC. Kubbi and I discussed it Saturday before the show and she blossomed because I think she found the part of it that she truly believed in and that came through her performance beautifully (Saturday). It’s hard for an actor to “play” something they don’t believe in…..as I teach in all of my acting classes, as an actor you must first believe in your work completely, if you don’t then the audience won’t believe you. I believe this is what Rosie saw. And if you change the way you look at her words, it was actually a high compliment to both Kubbi’s acting acumen and her growth into the woman she is becoming. I thought it was an awesome acknowledgement.

So with all of that, I am glad I had the experience. As an actress, I always want to improve and learn all that I can. So it is all a process and I will continue to grow as an actress and bring all of my characters to life. I don't regret any of the choices I made playing this character. I wanted to make her real and I feel that is what I accomplished.