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Tyler Perry’s The Marriage Counselor - Theater Review |
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| 2009-05-01 | ||
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Cast Members:
A seemingly close family displaced by hurricane Katrina find themselves living together and enduring the trials and tribulations that families normally face, but sometimes try to hide from or avoid. Roger Jackson (Anthony Grant) is an extremely hard working accountant who loves the Lord and enjoys (almost to a fault) taking care of his wife Judith. Judith (Tamar Davis) is a marriage counselor, his father Floyd Stanley Jackson (Palmer E. Williams Jr.) the family comedian grows his “economic stimulus” weed in the backyard and his Christian mother-in-law Tee-Tee (Alltrinna Grayson) makes hand-made blankets. Everyone is committed to the stability of the family. Roger and Judith’s interactions always seem to concern money and spending time together. He’s at work trying to make more and she seems to be spending money they just don’t have. Floyd and Tee-Tee are a modern version of George and Florence of “The Jeffersons” . They can’t seem to be in the same room without hurling insults and wisecracks at one another. Without exhausting the audience or themselves, each scene they’re in together, they steal. As a family they really do try to form a united front when it comes to living as a loving family unit, but they often miss the mark. They miss it for the same reasons many of us miss it. They weren’t being honest with one another. Roger is tired and constantly feeling disrespected by his father’s weed growing and his wife’s pressure to make more money, Judith was bored and feeling that her marriage was losing its fire, Tee-Tee wanted her family to love their Christian values and live by them, but no one said anything. The only person telling the truth was Floyd. He never held his tongue. As a counselor Judith appears to be making headway with her clients. There’s a Pastor (Johnnie Gilmore) and his stripper wife Patrice (Brandi Milton) that he‘s trying to get saved, Michelle (Myra Beasley) who’s trying to get her husband Oscar (Donnie Sykes) to see past her weight gain and become more affectionate with her. Judith’s assistant Becky (Stephanie Ferrett) is not good at her job, but always seem to have something to say at just the right time. Then one day trouble, bridle with secrets and deception, walks through Judith’s door and everything concerning her marriage and being a marriage counselor becomes devastatingly cloudy. Without our interference, temptations, preferences, or opinions marriage all by itself is difficult. We were never called to live in it, love in it or maintain marriage on our own. God has lovingly afforded us an opportunity to exemplify His love, His way and His character to one of His children; with the help of the Holy Spirit. Then we go an inch further and throw in unrealistic expectations, impure motives, selfish desires, career choices and real-life enters our relationship. When this happens what are we to do? What did Judith do? Now the marriage counselor needs counseling. Who does she turn to? This play is not for you if you need glitz & glamour or pomp & circumstance because you will be disappointed. The wigs are bad, the set is workable, but not spectacular. The wardrobe is noticeably understated. However, the music, as always is phenomenal, the voices of the cast is supreme, and most importantly, the theme and issue is relevant to almost anyone and isn’t that all that matters? We need to see someone else go through what we’ve gone through and how they became victorious despite ever present obstacles. You will walk away from “The Marriage Counselor” asking yourself moral and marital questions, perplexed by the ending and prayerfully look for ways to improve your marriage. Praise God if your marriage is great, but God is always seeking to make it better. This play may be the first step to living out God‘s Covenant of marriage. Although there’s no profanity in the play, there are adult sexual themes and some violence. I do not recommend it for children under 16 years old. The themes are for adult audience. |
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In his most recent and 10th play in his illustrious career, Tyler Perry brings us “The Marriage Counselor” . Is it what it sounds like; a marriage counselor that has the ability to counsel others, but misses the trouble in her own? Yes, but it’s not predictable. The Covenant of marriage and all that it encompasses has the ability to transform lives forever, for the good, if we live it the way God intended and for the bad if we don’t. We see this in “The Marriage Counselor” .