"TELL-IT, SING-IT, SHOUT IT!" AT WINDOWS OVER HARLEM

Now, when I went, I didn't have the slightest idea of what it was going to be like. I was only told it is a Gospel production. For all I knew, it would be too preachy, so sanctimonious, or any number of other unappealing things that were going to make me wish I'd saved my money and stayed home. But from when the ladies first began making their entrance, I loved it.

The thing that surprised me most was that it was so funny! And the humor came from recognizing traits in ourselves and being reminded of experiences in our own lives, not from mockery. Also, it's astonishing that it was so funny, because the substance of the stories told was very painful--such as child abuse, wife battering, and life-threatening illness--not exactly the things we think of as making for comedy.

Hazel Smith has united torment, sincere religious feelings, and the raucous in this work--a difficult feat by any standard. And she brings it off, too, creating a work that packs a real emotional wallop. I laughed, I cried, and I went away feeling truly uplifted.

Basically, "Tell-It, Sing-It, Shout-It" is Church ladies giving testimony about how their faith in God brought them through the toughest, most agonizing things in their lives, combined with superb gospel singing.

In the wrong hands, it could have been nothing more than your standard melodrama performed by your stereotypical Church lady characters, punctuated by music. But in how Smith wrote it and how her exceedingly well-chosen cast performed it, the play transcended that. We feel this is real life told of by real people.

In fact, some performers, such as Alicia Flakes, who reveals a 15 year affair with a married man, and Antoinette Boone intimately exposing being molested at 12 years of age by her mother’s live-in boy friend, are so convincing they made me forget that what they were saying was scripted.

For all the world it seemed as though they were just telling us about their own lives. I've got to say, I felt like a 6-year old perched on the edge of my seat, riveted by the stories being unfolded by the women before me. They held me spellbound.

The other cast members were Lillian Allen, Gloria Felton, P. Renee Credle and Arlene Frink. I can't say enough about how much I respected all of their work. Each one brought so much to her role that the character emerged as a three-dimensional individual, no matter how small the part. And there wasn't a weak sister in the bunch when it came to the singing either; they were all fabulous!

One actress, the striking Arlene Frink, is also a tremendously gifted comedian. She's got so much talent, and she can be so funny--even while doing practically nothing--that it's hard to take your eyes off her, and she can accidentally steal the scene!

Making a special guest appearance was Ms. Kathy Jordan Sharpton, wife of the civil rights advocate, Rev. Al Sharpton. She gave herself so generously to her part, which was actually about the playwright Hazel Smith. And when she sang--well, all I can say is, to hear Kathy Jordan Sharpton sing "I Won’t Complain" is one of the great experiences in life!

Other memorable gospel songs in the production included "How Great Thou Art," "His Eye Is On The Sparrow," and "Because He Lives," to name a few.

I could tell even more about why I recommend "Tell-It, Sing-It, Shout It," but I don't want to give anything more away. So all I'll say is, go see it for yourself. You'll be real glad you did!

The next performance of "Tell-It, Sing-It, Shout-It" is Saturday, March 23, 2002 at WINDOWS OVER HARLEM RESTAURANT, 3^rd Floor of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125^th Street (7^th Avenue). This performance will feature another guest appearance by Kathy Jordan Sharpton.

Brunch & Performance (1-5 PM) is $25. Reservations are a must. Call WINDOWS OVER HARLEM (212) 665-4337 or HELP SOMEBODY THEATRICAL MINISTRIES at (212) 362-3681.

For more information, please contact Donna Lamb at dlamb@gis.net.