This weekend I saw Not A Genuine Black Man, performed by Brian Copeland, at the Marsh Theater.

I really enjoyed his performance, funny and serious at the same time, about racism in San Leandro in the 1970's. It's odd because I think of that as a time, not too long after the "Summer of Love", when the Bay Area was really one of the most tolerant and integrated places in the country. I learned however, that San Leandro was anything but tolerant and integrated -- so I suppose I should add 'educational' to my list of compliments about this performance.

It must have been hard to get something like this right.....it's just him onstage for almost 2 hours, which I imagine can get boring really quickly if you don't mix it up pretty well and have a magnetic performance personality. He not only tells an interesting story, he actually acts out the characters and does "scenes" by himself, going from an 8-year old boy to a 60 year old grandmother in seconds. I really admire someone who has that sort of performance ability -- you can actually see him feeding off the energy in the audience. It was pretty cool.

I suppose to be honest, I also enjoyed the performance because it was a 'live show' and I really don't see enough of those any more (i know, it's my own fault). There's just something about being in a small theater with the actor 10 feet in front of you, where if he screws up he can't re-shoot the scene, where there are no special effects, or costumes, or a soundtrack, or any of that crap. Just one man alone up there, trying to make a point. And to entertain at the same time. Not only did I like the performance, but I love the whole concept of what he did.

That being said of course, I'm really looking forward to seeing "Sin City" in theaters soon.....everything in moderation.