For most people Friday the 13th is a superstitious day when all things bad and evil occur; at least in the movies and modern folklore. For those 5000 of us that were lucky enough to see Whoopi Goldberg this evening at the Hard Rock Live Seminole Casino in Hollywood Florida, Friday the 13th turned out to be very lucky indeed. To top it off, I won twenty dollars in the casino and made an ice cream run to some friends. Friday the 13th was a lucky lady for me indeed. Thanks Whoopi for topping off my caramel sundae with a cherry that was you.
Whoopi Goldberg has worn some very different and colorful hats during her life. From working in a funeral parlor as a mortuary beautician to bricklayer in her early days, she contintued taking small parts on Broadway, to later becoming an Oscar winning actress, writer, producer, TV host, stand-up comedian, author, the list goes on. She is a woman for all seasons; genres and ultimately a wonderful representative for what one can accomplish if they believe in themselves and work damn hard. Her stand-up comedy specials are legendary. Her first endeavor as a solo performer on the Broadway stage back in 1985 caught the eye of director Steven Spielberg. That same year he cast her in her first movie role as Celie in the classic film “The Color Purple.” The two elements couldn’t have been more different. Her comedy then was character driven: Fontaine, the street wise junkie with a sharp wit and tongue to match: the little black girl who wanted desperately to have long luxurious blonde hair: the Jamaican would-be caretaker who lived a true lovers’ dream: a California surfer chick who learned a lesson hopefully young women will never have to live: the handicapped woman who found true love where she least expected it: all of Whoopi’s characters resonate a heart and soul that is timeless and ultimately very funny and touching in their own unique way. All of these wonderful performances can be found on her DVD releases “Whoopi Goldberg: Direct From Broadway”, (1985) “Fontaine: Why Am I Straight?” (1988) and “Whoopi: Back To Broadway – The 20th Anniversary” (2005).
Seeing Whoopi live in her true element, the stage was something I had looked forward to for a very long time. I have seen all her previous comedy specials and enjoyed her off beat commentary on life, politics, religion and the world we live in. She has her own style not only in the comedic arena but her unique look has been turning heads since she first set her sights on Hollywood and the entertainment scene. Her signature dreadlocks are a bit shorter, her glasses still propped on the edge of her nose, peering over to take a glance with an ever present twinkle in her eye; Goldberg is truly an original if there ever was one. This evening she did not disappoint. Her range of insightful and intelligent humor caught the audience of Hard Rock Live where they lived. The crowd was obviously hip to the fact that Whoopi is boisterous, opinionated, vulgar with the English language (this is not a show for kids) and usually right on target with her wit and observations. She not just another comedian who tells jokes for 90 minutes and goes home. They are more storyboards depicting life and its experiences. This evening her material ranged from the differences between men and women (including body parts), growing up in the 60’s, flying on planes, marijuana, politics, getting older, menopause, and other bodily functions. The fact that the audience could hardly catch its breath between laughs only added to the truth that was being presented. The most engaging moments came when Whoopi opened up the arena to questions from the audience. Most were extremely hard to hear, there was a lot of shouting going on; some were engaging, funny, serious, all were entertaining. Sure a few people were a little impatient in waiting to talk to Whoopi but she handled them in pure Goldberg style. Brash, witty, tongue in cheek, not taking herself too seriously she was patient and engaging. Whoopi Goldberg live is pure gold and made this Friday the 13th a very lucky evening indeed.