Common sees multicultural audience
Rapper and actor Common has made his Broadway debut in the play “Between Riverside and Crazy,” and what he sees from the stage is something he never imagined: a multicultural audience hanging on to every word.
“It really expresses New York. It captures New York life, human beings. No one is all good. No one is all bad. But in New York, you see the blend and integration of so many different types of people and nationalities. And it’s just natural,” he said recently at the play’s official opening.
The Pulitzer Prizewinning play by Stephen Adly Guirgis stars Stephen McKinley Henderson, who plays a former New York City police officer whose 30-year career ended after being shot by a rookie cop. Common plays his ex-con son struggling to do right by his father.
The goal for Common was to present the character as a “whole person” and not someone discarded by society because he was behind bars or an addict.
“That’s not all he is. Junior loves his father. He loves his mother. He actually aspires to do something,” Common said.
Looking out from the stage each night, the veteran actor Henderson says he sees more diversity than he has ever seen before.
“It’s wonderful to hear the laughter in all the languages. You know, you hear laughter in different languages. It’s quite a kick,” he said.
Despite some early closures on Broadway this season, Common sees progress when it comes to the shows that have come to Broadway since the pandemic, including his own.
“I believe it’s going to keep growing and getting better. I think we’re going to continue to get it,” he said. “I want to do my best to bring audiences also that are multicultural.”
Ferrell sought out small ‘SNL’ roles:
Will Ferrell has long been a Hollywood leading man, but the actor still recalls fondly the minor parts that helped him build his career.
In a Thursday interview with Sean Evans, host of the YouTube series “Hot Ones,” Ferrell revisited his time on “Saturday Night Live,” where he was a cast member from 1995 to 2002. Ferrell said it was the unassuming characters that helped spotlight his comedy chops.
“I made a point to tell the writers, ‘I don’t care, cast me in a super small part,’ because some cast members took offense to that,” he said. “I just made a point to say, ‘I’ll deliver a pizza in the scene’ and, you know, if you need someone just because it’s supportive. But it’s also just an opportunity to potentially get a laugh.”
During his tenure on “Saturday Night Live,” Ferrell thrived in main and supporting roles, easily becoming a scenestealer. Among the actor’s memorable roles were Gene “More Cowbell” Frenkle and office worker Dale (with those patriotic trunks).
During the interview, Ferrell said he “just loved” being part of the “SNL” ensemble.
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