www.nashuatelegraph.com/foodfun ENCORE | THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016 | 3 Rhythm, love, voice, truth: Hip hop in ‘The Realness’

By KATHLEEN PALMER Every silver-haired person audience (well-delineated Staff writer I questioned after the show IF YOU GO with a lighting effect) are absolutely, enthusiastically hilarious – and informa- When I arrived for a loved it – as did this slight- MERRIMACK REPERTORY tive for those not from performance of “The Re- ly younger reporter who THEATRE PRESENTS ‘THE that world. They cut the alness: a break beat play” was glad to be transported REALNESS: A BREAK BEAT live-action tension and are – the latest production at back to 1996 and a time of PLAY.’ just so funny most of the Merrimack Repertory The- glaring-white sneakers, WHEN: Through April time (there are, of course, WHEN: Through April atre and a world premiere where the story takes 10; see website for serious moments shared 10; see website for of the latest work from place. dates and times. with us, too). Witness the dates and times. renowned playwright and “The Realness: a break case of when T.O. is de- hip-hop artist Idris Good- beat play” gives us the WHERE: Nancy L. scribing, via aside, his kiss WHERE: Nancy L. win – I perused the other story of T.O. (played by Donahue Theatre, 50 with beautiful rap artist Donahue Theatre, 50 audience Terrell Don- E. Merrimack St., Prima – literally while it is E. Merrimack St., members. THEATER nell Sledge), a Lowell, Mass. happening. Lowell, Mass. This matinee college student. TICKETS: $23-$60. In his exploration of the TICKETS: $23-$60. was for press “A nerd from Senior, student, mili- vibrant, exciting world Senior, student, mili­ and subscrib- REVIEW the ’burbs,” he tary, Lowell resident of mid-’90s hip hop, he tary, Lowell resident ers, many of moves to the big and group discounts meets some incredible and group discounts the latter being in the 65- city for school and eschews available. people – Prima (the lovely available. plus age group. I wondered his given name Tom, but TICKETS/INFORMA- and talented Diomargy TICKETS/INFORMA­ how they would receive discovers, quite humorous- Nunez, a killer rapper), her this play – with its truly TION: 1-978-654-4678, TION: 1-978-654-4678, ly, that his initials, when manager and tough-guy [email protected] epic tower of speakers and booVofÔce7mrt.org said by his new city Puerto aspiring rapper himself, Photo courtesy of MEGHAN MOORE boom boxes dominating the or www.mrt.org/show/ or www.mrt.org/show/ Rican friends, sounds like realness. Lord Style (Segun Akande), realness. stage, with classic hip-hop the Spanish word for “un- and Prima’s neighborhood Terrell Donnell Sledge and Diomargy Nunez star in “The playing in the background cle.” So he ends up being friend Roy (Jessie Prez), a Realness: a break beat play,” at Merrimack Repertory – dropping angry, frustrat- “uncle Tom” despite his gentle stutterer in his daily over from the far-afield Theatre in Lowell, Mass., through April 10. ed lyrics peppered with best efforts. T.O. is thrilled life who spits out rhymes safety of his trust-fund curse words – as they took to be in “not a melting pot; with fluid ease. Prez plays upbringing. Akande’s characters have professor, pushing him to their seats. I wondered if more like an urban buffet,” multiple characters, and Actor Sledge is the right a showdown rap battle at go deeper and learn more anyone would be able to and looks forward to is simply amazing in a combination of sweet a Scribble Jam-inspired about hip hop and himself; watch and enjoy a story experiencing the diversity rapid-fire display of “rap nerd, urgent suitor and event that’s also incredible she also embodies several so far removed from their of the hip-hop lifestyle and archetypes,” narrated emerging hip-hop jour- to witness. Joy Hooper personal experience. culture he’s only obsessed nearby by T.O. Prez and portrays T.O.’s college REALNESS | PAGE 9 I needn’t have worried. nalist. T.O.’s asides to the

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Classes meet one weekend a month in .BODIFTUFS /). Saturday, March 26, 2016 Preparation for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor 9am-2pm and certification as a substance abuse counselor. Senior Activity Center Accepting applications for both September 201 and January 201 70 Temple Street, Nashua, NH (Open to Public) Specializations offered in Integrated Mental Featuring Health and Addictions Treatment for Children, Nashua Coin & Collectibles Check our Youth and Families or Adults Storm Date offering Cash for Gold Designer 4/2/16 Corner 800.730.5542 | [email protected] | snhu.edu/pcmh www.nashuatelegraph.com/foodfun ENCORE | THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016 | 9 ’s hat, Disney’s Mickey Mouse ears up for auction

By DAVID SHARP lin, a host who and Vincent Price. The Associated Press encouraged his famous Franklin, who died in guests to leave a souvenir January 2015 at age 88, BIDDEFORD, Maine after appearing on his was a talk show institution – A collection of mem- show. in New York. He amassed orabilia including Babe The items include so much memorabilia – Ruth’s baseball glove and leather jackets belonging either as gifts or through Walt Disney’s Mickey to Steve McQueen and his own purchases – that Mouse ears is coming up Marlon Brando, Lau- his office was a cluttered for auction off the beaten rel and Hardy’s boxing mess. He even rented path in Maine, far from gloves, a baseball glove expensive storage units to the Big Apple where Ruth used by Joe DiMaggio handle the overflow, said smacked home runs and and a harmonica used by Steve Garrin, longtime the theme park and studio Janis Joplin. In addition producer and friend. Disney created in Cali- to John Wayne’s Stetson, “His office was floor to fornia. the collection includes the ceiling with stuff,” said The items that once actor’s cowboy boots and Garrin. belonged to the late New spurs. Though Franklin never York TV and radio person- Franklin’s era includ- had the national expo- ality Joe Franklin include ed the heyday of hats. sure of talk show hosts several dozen hats from a The collection includes who followed, he was an bygone era such as Frank pillbox hats that belonged icon in New York where Sinatra’s fedora and John to and he hosted radio and TV Wayne’s Stetson. Audrey Hepburn, Charlie shows for decades. Garrin The auction will take Chaplin’s derby, Babe and Franklin joined a place April 2 at Maine- Ruth’s Gatsby, a leather restaurateur to open “Joe based Saco River Auction, hat belonging to Jimi Franklin’s Memory Lane File photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS a small auction house far Hendrix, a tattered straw Restaurant” in Manhat- from the entertainment hat worn by Buddy Ebsen tan’s theater district. This Aug. 6, 1993, file photo shows TV personality Joe Franklin in New York. Franklin hubs of New York and Los and a sombrero owned by Franklin, who logged died in January 2015. A collection of celebrity memorabilia once owned by Franklin is Angeles. Slim Pickens. more than 300,000 guests coming up for auction in Saco, Maine. It includes a baseball glove belonging to Babe Auctioneer Troy Thibo- Others who donated during his career, auc- Ruth, Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse ears and Steve McQueen’s leather jacket. deau said the items came hats included Grace Kelly, tioned off some of the from a collector who , Walter items himself in 2002. the collection in Saco, high-profile items, in- wishes to remain anon- Matthau, Humphrey Bo- Some of those items Thibodeau said. cluding the oldest known ymous who spent years gart, James Cagney, Ray including Jack Benny’s The small auction house recording of black vocal purchasing items from Charles, Mae West, John- stage violin are back up made a name for itself in group and a rare baseball the collection of Frank- ny Carson, Burt Lancaster for sale again as part of recent years with some card from 1865. www.nashuatelegraph.com

sweetness of young love, into that universal story Restaurant? Entertainment? Event? Say you saw it in Realness to which we can all relate. When T.O. swooningly CONTINUED FROM | PAGE 3 talks of her, we are privy to “Prima’s Theme” running other characters with style though his head. and variety. The play runs approxi- At its core, “The Real- mately 90 minutes, with no ness” is a love story – the intermission. For the 4 p.m. love of T.O. for Prima, as Saturday performance this viewed through a time weekend, licensed profes- period’s love of emerg- sionals from Acre Family ing hip hop culture. This Childcare will provide free music helped a population child care and activities deal with the struggles for kids up to age 10. Other of everyday life, and the special events are on the heartbreaks and violence MRT website. therein. It helped people For tickets and more in- express anger and despair, formation, visit www.mrt. when rap icons like Tupac org/show/realness. Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. paid the ultimate Kathleen Palmer can be reached encore price for their craft. And at 594-6403, kpalmer@nashua as T.O. falls for Prima, telegraph.com or @NHFoodand Fun we are swept up in that and @Telegraph_KathP.