NoHo Review of “Greenwood 1964”
June 24, 2019By Javier Ronceros
“Greenwood 1964,” written and directed by Mohammed Ali Ojarigi as performed at The Hollywood Fringe, was a joy to watch and an important moment of reflection to witness. The two leads portraying Harry Belafonte, played by the wonderfully sincere Thomas Ramseur-King, and Sidney Poitier, played with an intense charismatic energy by Eli Goree, were perfectly matched by temperament and honesty.
It is a volatile and unwelcoming situation for, arguably, the most famous black men in America at that time. And eventhough this was a fictional story based on true events, it does not take away from the power of the message.
The actors’ interaction brought the audience into the stark and inelegant hotel room and kept us there. The exchanges and sharing of fears and hopes by both men at times raised to such a tense level that I could feel the audience shifting in their seats. None of this would have been possible without the heartfelt and deft writing and direction by Moha
...Great Friends. Different Approaches. One Goal.
May 18, 2019For Immediate Release:
Ojarigi Art is pleased to present in association with Tubeman Productions:
STARRING
Eli Goree as Sidney Poitier
Thomas Ramseur-King as Harry Belafonte
Broadwater, Second Stage
GREENWOOD 1964 is a powerful, educational two man one act show which takes us into an actual trip made by Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. Two very great friends and once industry’s most successful sought after duo. Sidney Poitier the first Black to win an Academy Award for best actor and Harry Belafonte, activist and first music artist ever to sell a million copies in the US & England. The show takes place in Greenwood Mississippi 1964, a time in which Dr. King called it “The year of promise” due to the rise of racial tension versus the quest for social equality. This brilliantly crafted fictional debate between Mr. Poitier and Mr. Belafonte eloquently explores the individual approaches on how to achieve liberation for people of color. The action takes place inside of an a
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