European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 4, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse If Jesus came to South Africa Story and photo by Tony Nauroth Niernberg bureaus hat would happen in the second coming of Christ were to take place in South Africa thai s the question posed by the play woza Albert on tour shia week in Bavaria. Germany. Woza Albert which Means Rise up addresses three taboos politics religion and sex. The play swings wildly from Christian scripture to political drum beating from Beautiful biblical language and resonant South african song to she vulgarity of Street language. Conceived by two South african Blacks and a White South african director in Johannesburg and performed by the English speaking company of Munich. Woza Albert is tar fetched it edges on controversy and it s strange. More important than us heavy handed political message wrapped in a scriptural package is the portrayal of the Way South african Blacks live. Though the problems of South Africa Are in the news almost every Day according to director Mike Downey very few americans really understand american actors Melvin Cennady and Calvin e. Burke try to explain the problems by performing disjointed vignettes almost parables. They troop out a series of Black characters who see Christ Morena As he is called in the play s dialect a the answer to their physical needs Only. Auntie Dudu an old woman picking in a garbage can says Morena s arrival in South Africa would mean Whites would celebrate with More parties so there would be a larger selection of garbage for her to choose from. Two convicts one whose face is turned to heaven the other who scots at reports of Morena s impending arrival in the country say not in South perhaps the doubt expressed by the Parade of characters is understandable considering Morena arrives in a South african airlines jumbo Jet. In the play s Climax Morena escapes trom Robben Island prison where he was jailed after inciting Blacks to Burn their passbook. His escape is made by walking across the Bay toward Cape town. A government helicopter gunship screams Down from the sky and using nuclear weapons blasts him out of the water. Cepe town goes with him. Before the explosion the helicopter pilots argue Over who will pull the trigger. For neither wants to take responsibility for his execution. The scene brings echoes o the High priest Caiaphus turning to Rome to crucify Jesus and Pontius Pilate washing his hands when the deed is done. In the end. Morena As expected rises from the dead. But unexpectedly he is asked to also raise South african Black martyrs from the dead. At this Point a series of their pictures is flashed on the Wall behind the actors As they dance and sing the finale. Director Downey an Anglo Irish member of the Munich theater company said the play comes mostly from poor Black african experience and is meant to entertain and inform As much As raise the consciousness of the Calvin by irks Toft and Melvin Cana Twyln Wota Albert he said the play follows a tradition of poor in which More imagination than props and scenery sets the stage. In fact very few props Are used. The play is difficult to follow at times because the Strain of two actors playing so Many parts is a bit confusing. But in the second half when Burke and Canady Settle into two main roles Zulu boy and Bobbe Jaan a semblance of plot is plucked Iron the disjointed Vignette. Woza Al Boltis vulgar in places. The actors Wear Only sweatpants through the entire show except when they Moon the audience while playing prisoners. Woza Albert is showing feb. 4 in Erlanger at the a Werk on Fuchsen Wiese feb. 5 in Regensburg at the Haus Der Kirche Alu neum at 2 am Welberg and feb. 6 in Bamberg at in strand Cata at 12memmelsdorferstrassb. All shows begin at 8 . Tickets Are available a the door for a nominal fee. The jets wholesome but Tough Byeff Baenen associated press Ock proud Jer Don Powell had to a dragged to the Sheraton Northwest hotel to see the family octet called quasar perform everything from Rick James to Don to Attar working with musicians of the Caliper of Stei in wonder and David Bowie to go to a club and hear them a local band Butcher a cover Lune of theirs b physically painful Powell said. But what he heard on March 16,1984, was something special. Powell assumed management of the five Brothers and three Sisters named them the jets after the Elton John song Benny and the jets and helped produce their first album which was released in 19bs by Mca records with their wholesome image and Tough sound the jets first single curiosity hit the top 10 in the music charts. Crush on you also zoomed to the top. Their voices Are Youthful but not bubblegum. On our first album it was mainly upbeat uptempo Happy songs. It was a positive us having a Good time Type of album said Elizabeth wollgramm. For our next album to want a harder what dotting Lohes the Jet trom other family singing groups Powell said is the toughness of their sound. The music has a. Harder Edge than they look he said. But Powell who worked with the Jackson s in the Early f 970s, does t like of compare the jets to other family groups such As the Osmond or the Jacksons. The Jacksons had one Lead Singer. Michael was the focal Point Powell said. The jets Aio a self contained group everyone s a Lead whoever tils the voice whoever can sing it can sing it said Eddie Wolfgramm. The jets Are irom the South Pacific islands of Tonga where their parents. Mikeli and vake woh Gramm and the oldest brother Leroy. Were born. The family launched a music career in 197b while living in Salt Lake City. They had begun playing polynesian music in 1973 As the polynesian pearls. Their Mother a Hula dancer Sang and other relatives performed. Their father quit his Job at a supermarket to manage the group. My Mother used to watch groups like the Jackson 5. She thought one Day if she had enough kids Why not form a group Elizabeth said. In 189?, they began playing Al the hawaiian International inns in Minnesota and Iowa. Then they switched to pop music changed their name to quasar and moved to the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove. Leroy is a self taught musician who aught his Brothers and Sisters How to play. About the closest training we had was a voice Trainer. She taught us voice warm ups Elizabeth said each Jet sings and plays an instrument. Their names and Ages Are Leroy 21 eddies Eugene 19 Haiti 1b Rudy 17 Kali 16 Elizabeth 14 and Moana 13. Leroy said the band is run As a democracy although Mikeli decided which instalments his children would play. Their Mother designs and sews the group s costumes and they rehearse in a new studio across from a Cornfield. The advantage is we Are a family and hold meetings once a week Leroy said. Ii helps Nellle things and keep things running Elizabeth said they try to avoid Competition and jealousy we re Brothers and Sisters. Everybody wants to give everybody else a the group boasts a clean Cut image. Their hit tune. Crusol on you carries lips Lor youngsters on avoiding abduction. The jets also have a hotline with a recorded message for their fans and sometimes family members answer the phone themselves at their Home. We just want to let people know it s of to hang around with your Brothers and Sisters and you can do it and be wholesome Leroy said. You can have fun without drugs and on the jets first album Only Elizabeth Eugene end Rudy Sang Lead in order to develop a musical focus Powell said six of the eight Sang Lead on the group s recently released Christmas album and others will sing Lead on the next up planned for Spring release. The jets recently wrapped up a nationwide Iso data tour thai began last february and ended naw year s eve at Disneyland. Each Day is planned for the band with time set aside for Lul Oring end rehearsal. And the group has a 10-year plan with possible motion pictures and television series being developed. We re very Lucky for what we be had Elizabeth said. We know it lakes Many groups years to reach where we Are. It has its disadvantages and its advantages. We have a nicer House we have Mote friends. When we go shopping people notice you and sometimes you can t help that. That can be a the band s goal is to achieve financial Security in the next Tew years. It would break my heart to see them go on a revival tour 10 years irom now Powell said. However. The jets need t worry about finding replacements As its members grow up there arc six younger Brothers and Sisters at Home. Wednesday february 4,1987 the stars and stripes Page 17
