(Photo: Fernando Leon/Getty Images)

A multiracial production of Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire opened on Broadway at the legendary Broadhurst Theatre on Sunday night.  Starring Blair Underwood in the iconic role of Stanley, which was made famous by Marlon Brando, Streetcar is directed by Emily Mann, who was behind Cat on a Hit Tin Roof on Broadway. In an interview with BET.com, Mann, who knew Mr. Williams, explained it was a dream of the legendary playwright to see a multiracial version of his work. Williams would certainly be proud of the remix given to his Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Along with Underwood as Stanley, there is the consistently fabulous Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella. Stella is devoted to her husband, Stanley, but struggling with the conflict he has with her sister, Blanche DuBois — passionately delivered by Nicole Ari Parker. Wood Harris of The Wire is DuBois’s love interest, who shows his range as an actor. The polished cast breathed fresh life into Williams’s characters, smoothly relying on the cultural bearings of the African-American experience, but never resorting to stereotypes.

The entire cast had their shining moments, but it was Nicole Ari Parker who gave the most intense performance of her career. Blanche DuBois is no easy task and Boris Kodjoe’s significant other ripped fire into DuBois. Furthermore, Parker, who has an acting degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, is making her Broadway debut with Streetcar — her portrayal of Blanche looks like the work of a Broadway veteran. As I was leaving the theater, the main commentary was: “Nicole Ari Parker deserves a Tony nomination!”

A Streetcar Named Desire is another example of the needed diversity on Broadway. It can be an arduous journey to get people of color on the Broadway stage, and even when we see ourselves on the Great White Way, the production is often scrutinized with a microscope. Thankfully, Streetcar can handle the scrutiny.  From the superb direction of Emily Mann to the beautiful music from Terence Blanchard, if you are a fan of sophisticated, intellectual theater — with a strong helping of comic relief — you will not be disappointed.

A Streetcar Named Desire is currently playing at the Broadhurst Theatre.

Summary: A father (Eddie Murphy) is consumed with his professional life and is neglecting his daughter. When he discovers she has the gift of predicting his business ventures via a blanket, he discovers the world of imagination.

Review: I miss ‘bad’ Eddie Murphy. You know, the one who would curse up a storm in a movie, the Billie Dee Williams of the 1990s and whose edgy comedy had everyone in the neighborhood imitating him. Well, I guess we all have to grow up, but I hope Murphy one day returns to his “Raw” roots.

Imagine That isn’t the most imaginative movie, but Eddie Murphy is still a comedic genius and has mastered the art of children’s movies. The man who was once policed by Bill Cosby now beautifully appeals to kids. He is funny, charismatic and seems to have a natural chemistry working with children on the big screen. This time around it’s Yara Shahidi, in her first film. Shahidi is undeniably adorable and when the film lags, just watching her is enough to raise the cute factor of this Nickelodeon film.

The plot line is no “E.T.,” but kids could care less about inconsistencies, predictability, or a lazy script. Children want to be entertained and Imagine That effectively does that.

Imagine That also reunites Nicole Ari Parker and Vanessa Williams, who were sisters in the popular Showtime series Soul Food.  While they don’t get much screen time, one can only hope someone will hand these two television and film veterans a movie.

Overall, Imagine That is definitely a kid’s movie and doesn’t transcend that category. Nonetheless, it is good to see an African-American dad and his daughter bonding on screen. It’s the perfect film for Father’s Day.

Imagine That is in theatres today.