At A Moments Notice...

I can’t remember a time I’ve laughed as loud or hard at a play written, produced and performed by a group of black talent, as I did—and still do whenever I slip in Madea’s Family Reunion.

Tyler Perry, a black play-write born and raised in New Orleans, but now a prominent member of the Atlanta community, changed that. Madea’s Family Reunion is pure classic. From the opening scene when Madea returns from her sister Irene’s funeral in a brilliant red dress to the first time she threatens to bust a cap in her crack-head granddaughter’s ass you know you’re in for a totally different type of experience.

Madea is a tough, weed-smoking, gun-toting, opinionated, sarcastic-as-hell grandmother who runs her family. Actually, now that I think about tough is an understatement; Medea epitomizes strength, courage and what’s missing in many of today’s families: a network that seeks to protect its off-spring, even, if it means going too far. In some circles, I believe that’s called a savior.

In all of his plays, Tyler’s characters succumb to the pressures of life and as a result end up asking the question so many of us have asked when the waters of life began to rise just a little too high: How much can one heart take? And Madea is there, always, in her own unique way ready to provide the comfort only a dedicated loving grandmother could provide; a shoulder, maybe shelter, and a tiny piece of life-changing advice they’ve searched for all their lives. All the while revealing the family that prays together stays together.

It goes without saying I hold a massive amount of respect for Mr. Perry for daring to do what he does, because in his creative outlet he has found a way to bring up many of the issues our black families are suffering through and at the same time offer probable solutions for them. I thank him for daring to make a difference, and for filling my life with laughter, quite a bit of substance and introducing me to a rowdy-sometimes-obnoxious woman named Mable “Madea” Simmons.

For more information on Tyler Perry and his plays, visit him on the web: here

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