A Fine Afternoon with Whoopi Goldberg

WHOOPI GOLDBERG

Monday, November 9, 1998

Sanders Theatre

Before the rushing applause in Sanders Theatre stood the unforgettable dreds, expressive eyes and contagious smile of Whoopi Goldberg. It was she who made Jumpin' Jack Flash a gas, The Color Purple regal and Ghost come to life. The actress who gave us moments of laughter and pain still performs with power, as shown on Monday afternoon.

The afternoon's performance was based on questions from the audience. Whoopi's answers were candid in thought and presentation, with no concern for "presentable" language. Amusing most and offending some, she raged and praised with profanities proclaiming that a word should not hold you back, that some words hold no power for her.

She seemed unedited, but at times her responses were actually lines from her new book, Book. She gave true and honest responses that match her philosophy in Book, but she crafted sections of her text into her answers. To an adoring fan, her wisdom may have seemed natural and unrehearsed. But for readers Book, we heard another almost flawless performance.

Between the two stoic marble statues on the stage of Sanders Theatre, Whoopi showed the actor within. Her larger-than-life mannerisms gracefully spurred laughter. She charmed the crowd as she professed advice and her stance on many of life's issues.

For her answers to a question on race, see page 125 of Book: "Rosa Parks did not sit on that bus so that I could put something in front of the word American." John F. Kennedy reigns in Chapter 13; he also appeared in her speech about the importance of the individual. "Prove to me it is not mine," she responded to a question of how to feel that America belongs to "you."

Yet when the text was forgotten, truths of her soul were brought forth by the flash of her hands and the serene voice that is only hers. One convoluted question came from the back of the theatre, read rather than spoken due to its length. After a pause and recuperation from the audience, Whoopi lucidly gave an unrehearsed answer with confidence.

Some real reactions did break through when she was at ease and felt accepted. She giggled about Oprah being the representative of black women, and became soft with gratitude when a nervous fan praised her.

On stage, she referred to herself once as Caryn, the name her mother calls her in Book. Whoopi spoke of being influenced by her mother, Emma, as well as by Anne Frank. It was their advice that became part of her spirituality and code of life. Advocating dialogue, because of the understanding it can bring, she enjoys searching for the truth and learning about the experiences of other people's lives.

After mentioning that she was Jewish, she was asked why she converted to Judaism. She gave a bold retort and asked, "What makes you think I converted?" With a knowing smile, she said her mother was Jewish and that she is not a follower of any one religion but practices humanism. While Whoopi analyzes and attacks the Catholic Church in her writing, on stage she professed one of the rules she tries to live by: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

She presents one face to the general public, but in Sanders she was somewhat different. On stage in jeans, she seemed very much like "one of the people;" yet surrounded by her entourage, she seemed a part of another world. How do you know which Whoopi is real? How do you not feel a little betrayed by the fact that most of the answers she gave to the questions from the crowd at Sanders can be found in her book? You can't. Deal. It's not to say that Whoopi was fake--clearly she was not. She just knew her life's script well.