Monday, September 14, 2009

Tyler Perry: For Colored Girls?


By Thembi Ford
Getting his hot little hands on Ntozake Shange’s 1975 play “For Colored Girls who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf," was coup of the year for Tyler Perry. Not only will he produce and direct the upcoming film version, the King of Coonery will also write the adaptation of what may be the most important work about black female identity ever. Ask any black woman, especially the artsy/moody/self-aware type, about “For Colored Girls…” and she will respond with a wistful look and fond memories.
I was Lady in Blue in a high school production and have told more than one sorry dude “insteada being sorry all the time, try being yourself,” quoting the Lady In Red (but playing it off like I came up with it on my own). This is classic material and now we can expect the intentionally stripped-down aesthetic of Shange’s work to be replaced by style choices that only a closeted gay man could make. Even worse, Perry has announced that he’d like to cast the likes of Oprah, Halle Berry, and Beyoncé to tackle the play’s issues, which include love, rape, abortion, and relationships. Beyoncé??? Please pass the Xanax.



3 comments:

Daddy Squeeze Me! said...

i hope he gets better writers to do the movie! please!

Unknown said...

I hope he does this movies some justice...

Maxine said...

OH MY GOD - THERE IS A MOVIE COMING OUT OF THIS? Fantastic. This is WAY overdue. If they cast Beyonce, I swear I will fly over to the states and start a picket line. How COULD they?