Word: verrette
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Amahl and the Night Visitors, a Christmas opera he wrote for TV. He continued his efforts to democratize the art in 1958 by founding Italy's influential Spoleto Festival (and later its sister festival in Charleston, S.C.), which helped launch the careers of such artists as singer Shirley Verrett and dancers turned choreographers Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp...
Both Andre Braugher and Rip Torn deliver excellent performances as Verrett and Grant. Tension results between the two friends when they cannot agree on the best way to combat segregation. Verrett pursues equality with an almost reckless passion, while Grant still hopes to effect change through official channels. This same sort of tension is played out convincingly between Travis and his father, whose concern for Travis' safety makes him a constant check on his son's determined idealism...
Maybe idealism is too strong a word. After all, Travis just wants play ball and get the chance at a real city title. But when the archdiocese finally begins to consider the merits of a Jesuit-St. Augustine game, Verrett's in-your-face approach to segregation jeopardizes his team's safety and dashes all hopes of an official game...
Unsatisfied, Travis forces the question and challenges Jesuit to a secret match outside of official league play. When Verrett and Grant ask the players' families about the possibility of going through with the secret game, it becomes clear that neither side can resist the chance to prove themselves the better team. The game takes place, therefore, because the chance for a truly equal competition overrides the teams' fears and mistrust of one another...
...with a more realistic idea of what the atmosphere in segregated New Orleans must have been like. Many people had good reason to be frustrated, but progress did not always require violent events. The St. Augustine-Jesuit game paved the way for officially integrated competition in 1967. Because of Verrett and Grant, New Orleans finally got a real city championship. St. Augustine's success should hearten people who face inequality today by reminding them how much progress has been made since...