Lou Beatty Jr. Leads NOBODY WALKS LIKE MY DADDY at Barbara Morrison PAC, Now thru 2/22

Venerable actor Lou Beatty Jr. will star in the role of the father in the social drama "Nobody Walks Like My Daddy" in a four weekend run from tonight, Jan. 30 through Feb. 22 at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park.

The play will also star Roscoe Freeman as the son and also features musical accompanist Dale Fielder, a renowned saxophonist. Multi-talented Zadia Ife is the director and co-producer of "Nobody Walks Like My Daddy," an autobiographical play written by the late E.L. James and set in Norfolk, Va., beginning in the 1930s and continues to the present.

"It's about a son (Freeman) who is approaching his senior years and he's had a child that has come at a time he can take care of this child," Beatty explained. "He's had two other marriages that haven't worked and he's telling the audience of his trials as a father and his children have been raised far way from him. He's remembering his father giving him wonderful advice, but he didn't necessarily follow it and he's going to do it now.

"People don't always listen to their parents, they have to learn the hard way. I play the father, a character that has passed away. The son is remembering all the things his father told him. It's a wonderful play that warms your heart. When you leave it, you feel good."

"Nobody Walks Like My Daddy" also makes a statement about the vitality of the African-American family, which Beatty believes is vastly underestimated.

"E.L. James is not a well known author and I feel and a bunch of other people feel his words ring so true for easily 50 percent of the people," Beatty said. "He grew up with a father who leads, this black father did not abandon his family. The story is based in the '40s and '50s and the men were in their homes and they went to work every day and stayed with their families. All black fathers were not delinquent. They were working class and, believe it or not, some middle class families.

"It was that way in much higher numbers than anyone speaks about because the bad guys get the press. The bad people were less than 10 percent. This play gives light to the black family that is more positive. Yes, these characters have issues, frailties, but they were families."

Beatty knew James, who died in 2014. James played the role of the father in earlier productions. Beatty is reprising his role, done originally in 2012 at the D.C. Black Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C.

"When I came on stage in D.C. in 2012, it reminded me of my father and what he had taught me," Beatty said. "It made me feel wonderful. We are doing this play so, hopefully, people will see the work of E.L. James. We all work on other things, but we wanted to take the time and do this show so people can appreciate E.L. James. E.L. had a hard, hard personality and when you read his works, you can see why he was testy. E. L.'s works are wonderful. In my opinion, he was frustrated because the world had not recognized his contributions and he passed away not knowing if they ever would."

Beatty, originally from Detroit and a long-time southern California resident, has been on the stage, television and film for over 30 years. He's the co-star in an episode of the upcoming "The Messengers," a series scheduled to be broadcast on the CW Network this spring. Beatty also played the lead role (Doc Shelby) in the UP Network's feature film "Finding Normal." Some of Beatty's many television credits include guest star roles on "Raising Hope," "NCIS," "CSI Miami," "Boston Legal," "E.R." "West Wing," "Judging Amy" and "X-Files." Beatty also had a recurring role in the last year of the 1980's hit, "Dynasty."

Beatty also has numerous credits on stage, including "The Things That Make Men Cry," "Paul Robeson," "Let Freedom Ring," and "Howling Blues and Dirty Dogs! The Story of 'Willie Mae 'Big Momma' Thornton" plus more stage shows than he can remember.

"Nobody Walks Like My Daddy" will begin each Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. from Jan. 30 through Feb. 22. Tickets on Friday are $15 and Saturday and Sunday are $20. They are available at www.barbaramorrison.com, or by calling 310-462-1439.

To post a comment, you must register and login.