The Mystery of Love and Sex

SUCH a pretty day not to get out . I made a last minute decision to attend a Sunday matinee of  live theatre done by Terrific New Theatre,  one of the little theatres here in Birmingham.   The Mystery of Love and Sex was the offering. The online teaser stated:

“Deep in the American South, Charlotte and Jonny have been best friends since they were nine. She's Jewish, he's Christian, he's black, she's white. Their differences intensify their connection until sexual desire complicates everything in surprising, compulsive ways. An unexpected love story about where souls meet and the consequences of growing up.”

This was my first time attending a TNT production. In fact  I went to the WRONG theatre which was Birmingham Festival Theatre to which I have been too before.  As a searched for a parking space,  I wondered why I didn’t  see anyone on the theatre grounds.  Discovering my mistake  Latoya (that’s my car’s name) and I did a turn around  hoping to make it to the correct address  Luckily TNT wasn’t too far away.  

I made it in well before the curtain went up.

According to the  Who’s Who on the program, the cast included:

 Russell E. Alexander II (Jonny)   is a Senior Theatre Arts Major at The University of Alabama at  Birmingham (UAB) who’ll be graduating this April. He has performed  numerous works here and in other cities 

Beth Kitchin (Lucinda)  has performed in over 30 productions in the Birmingham area. She is an Assistant  Professor of  Nutrition  Sciences at UAB. 

*I immediately recognized her from her nutrition advisory spots on the local morning show, Good Day Alabama

Judd McCluney (Howard)   made his debut with TNT in 1987.  He has performed in countless productions here and elsewhere.  He too studied at UAB, been a member of  the  Birmingham Shakespeare Ensemble, City Equity Theatre and Ravenswood Productions.

Laura Elson Towns (Charlotte) This was her fifth performance with TNT. She has also performed with BFT and Virginia Samford Theatre.

George “Buddy” Cannon (Howard’s  father) is a retiree with a long history of stage performances over the years. This was his first performance with TNT

This was definitely not a dramedy  (comedy-drama)  for children. There were adult themes and scenes.  Also present were infidelity, sexual tensions, racism, homosexuality, alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. 

I was gripped in a trance as each actor finessed his/her character exhibiting a roller coaster of emotions of which I was a passenger.   A brilliant  presentation.  I left the theatre sated from the performance.

Very cozy inside with head shots of various actors.

Photo opp with Russell E. Alexander II who portrayed Jonny.

I would have requested photos from the other actors but he is the only one I saw.

That's it 

Do you detest grocery shopping as much as I do?

Suppose you could get someone to do your grocery shopping for you?

 That was the subject of a magnificent lecture I attended today led by KAT’s Inc.  CEO  & President, Maurice Mercer.  He fascinated me even more by saying , “Seniors get a flat rate.”

The idea for his company came about when his own mother Kathryn Jenkins

an MSN was stricken with a debilitating illness which no longer allowed her to do her own shopping and other errands. You can read more about the background of his brainchild on the website. 

Some of what I remember from the lecture included the following:

• Employees/shoppers/delivery persons (Hereafter referred to as ESD) are bonded, insured and under a company insurance policy for other incidentals. They are given a background check.

• They will shop at the stores you want them to.

• Stores will give the senior discount on senior discount days when KAT’s tells them they are shopping for a senior.

• ESDs are part-timers and wear red t- shirts with the name of the business on front and  shopping cart logo.

• ESDs will go to more than one store, up to 3 stores if they are  within the same area. Otherwise there is an upcharge.

• ESDs  will put the groceries up for you if you are unable to do so.

• Clients may e-mail, text or phone in their orders.  Orders phoned in after 7pm go to voicemail.

• If an ESD can’t find an item a client has listed, the ESD will call/text to ask the client about substitutes.

• Shopping lists need to be at KAT’s the day before the shopping.

• ESDs give clients a time window as to when the delivery will be made.

After giving the basics of the business Mr. Mercer took questions from the audience. 

My questions were;

•   Must clients sign a contract? No. But they must have a credit card on file even if they pay by check. No cash payments are allowed.  

•    May a client use coupons? Yes. The client can mail in the coupons. If the ESD has to pick them up and then shop that is an extra fee. KAT’s also uses digital coupons they may find online.

This is a service that is certainly needed by seniors/disabled or chronically ill. I found Mr. Mercer’s responses to be full of human compassion and well thought out. I will be using this service at least once just as an experience.

This free program was sponsored by Senior Services Division of the  Human-Community Services and Economic Development  and was held at Cooper Green Mercy Health Services.  There was also free parking with a validated ticket.  I will be attending future programs sponsored by the organization.

As I age I want to stay informed of the services out there for me.

That's it 

The Green Book

I attended the play, The Green Book a couple of weeks ago at Red Mountain Theater. 

The Negro Motorist Green Book (at times styled The Negro Motorist Green-Book or titled The Negro Travelers' Green Book) was an annual guidebook for African-American roadtrippers, commonly referred to simply as the Green Book. It was originated and published by New York City mailman Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1966, during the era of Jim Crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed discrimination against non-whites was widespread. Although pervasive racial discrimination and black poverty limited car ownership, the emerging African-American middle class bought automobiles as soon as they could. In response, Green expanded the coverage in his book from

The play was fantastic. It gave so much history on how and why the Green Book came about. There were limited motels and hotels for Blacks.In many cases private homes offered rooms . Few people would be willing to take such a risk with strangers in their home in this day and time. But that was another era. These families showed compassion  by providing a safe haven to travelers  as they rested before continuing their journey. 

In one scene the Davis' (the host family) is in a dilemma, when a Jewish man asks to lodge with them. Outwardly he is a white man and Jim Crow laws forbid the mixing of races.  The visitor  explains that he too is familiar with the Green Book and is thankful for it because many places will not allow Jews. This having been the case when he sought shelter at a hotel, he turned to the Green Book. The Davis' reluctantly agree to accommodate him.

Later during a heartfelt chat with one of the Green Book's salesmen, the Jewish visitor imparts the various turmoil he too has experienced as a holocaust victim.  

At the end of the production, the audience was allowed a Q and A
with the cast and crew.

Cast and crew of The Green Book 

 I recommend seeing this play.  It is well written with so much detailed information. It examines the discrimination of not only African Americans but of people of other creeds and nationalities. 

If you would like to see original copies and pages of the Green Book click the link.

That's It