IT’S one thing to pour deserving accolades on a deserving soul for a long life of continuing accomplishments, but quite another to understand from whence it all cometh.
Take Joseph Marcell, a Saint Lucian most of his fellowmen loved watching on TV long before knowing he shared the land of their birth.
Like everywhere else, Marcell is best-known at home for his role as ‘The Butler’ in the US 1990s sitcom ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ — starring Will Smith, created by Andy and Susan Borowitz for NBC — which aired for six seasons (1990 to 1996).
He’s also well-remembered for his unique style of bringing his English, Caribbean and Saint Lucian selves into his walk and talk and the words and actions that personified that unique character he played in the sometimes-hilarious chess game of The Butler’s expressive adoptions and adaptations between Black and White America – and between Black Americans at different levels of experience in the common inequalities of marginal minority life in the USA.
But as with his kith and kin and heirs and successors on stage and screen at home and abroad, Joseph exudes the shine without polish in ways that still attract audiences everywhere in like manner, for his patented jaw-dropping and hair-raising execution of delivery.
He will be the first to say that while he was already creating waves when he was attracted to The Shakespearean Globe, his association with the leading London house of theatre significantly influenced The Butler in Fresh Prince that made him most-famous to global audiences.
At the end of a 38-year run as a humble and helpful associate with The Globe in the UK and the USA, his Alma Mater honoured their stage bard with its highest award.
Marcel was in June 2023 awarded the 2022 Sam Wanamaker Award for his role in enhancing appreciation of the words and works of William Shakespeare, at a ceremony held one year later due to COVID restrictions.
The Award was established by Shakespeare’s Globe in 1994 and the Globe was opened in June 1997 by Queen Elizabeth II — and the latter is considered one of the top Shakespeare-producing theatres in the world, where Marcel contributed almost four decades to that fitting legacy.
Looking back at his relationship with The Globe, Marcell says, “I have always admired and respected the work of Shakespeare’s Globe,” and describes it as “possibly the most innovative classical theatre company in Britan.”
Looking through his life’s rear-view mirror, he recalls the firs times he started turning hears and raising eyebrows on the London stage.
He recalls 1984, when he played ‘Othelo’ in Michael Boyd’s production at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, when, “a non-white actor playing a leading Shakespearean role — at that time — was unusual…”
After that, he played ‘Brutus’ in Julius Caesar for John Dexter.
It was hair-raising too in many cases, as Black Shakespearean roles back then were preceded only by Ira Aldridge and Paul Robeson — in any London theatre.
Marcell continues his story line, “After a performance, Nick Kent introduced me to Sam Wanamaker, who was fulsome in his praise for my performance in the production, as well as my ‘Othello’…
He readily admits that “meeting Sam” was the starting point for his relationship with The Globe, also recalling the uncertainties that initially belied their first related conversation…
As Marcell remembers, “Sam asked me if I would like to join the Artistic Directorate of Shakespeare’s Globe, later Shakespeare’s Globe Council.
“I was not sure.
“I asked myself: Why me?
“After all, I had never really considered myself a commentator or influencer of the classical theatre…”
But Wanamaker “was adamant that I could make a contribution… and I eventually embraced the offer…”
That move, Joseph says today, “transformed my perspectives as an actor and audience member.”
And since then?
Now, he says, “My association with the company has been both rewarding and uplifting.”
On the night he received the award to The Globe, the Black Shakespearean, cisibly touched beyond words, admitted to his audience that “The award has left me at a loss for words…”
But Marcell’s words and actions on stage had, by then, already spoken, quite large and loud, into the ears, eyes and memories of millions in the UK and across the USA.
He was showered that night with deserving praise by The Globe’s Chief Executive Neil Constable, as he embraced an award whose previous recipients include Sir Peter Brook and Ann Nunn –the latter a retired history teacher from Birmingham who would travel from the Midlands to volunteer at the Globe Theatre.
His association with the Globe is long and wide, spanning: ‘Coriolanus’ (2006), ‘Under the Black Flag’ (2006), ‘Much Ado Nothing’ (2011), ‘Cymbeline’ (2015), ‘King John’ (2015), ‘The Tempest’ (2016) and ‘King Lear and Omeros’, playing the lead role in the latter.
Marcel’s long career also includes the TV sitcom ‘Fancy Wanders’ with Dave King in 1980 on British TV, long before ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ was even an idea.
His supporting lead role in Britain’s first Black Soap Opera ‘Empire Road’ and becoming one of the most recognizable faces on World TV as ‘The Butler Geoffrey’ in the ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air’.
His film roles include ‘Hero’ directed by Pam Fraser Solomon, ‘The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind’ directed by Chiwitel Ejiofor, ‘The Exorcism of God’ directed by Alejandro Hidalgo
Marcell’s 38-year association with the Globe also includes directorship on its Board in both the UK and USA.
But in all that, ‘The Fresh Prince’ has remained as humble and exceptional as the invisible character inside him who can easily switch from portraying The Fresh Prince’s forever-wise butler, to the Black Caribbean Shakespearean stage and screen actor who’s inscribed his name and stone and gold on the pavements and parchments of lifetime achievements that qualified him for the 2022 Sam Wanamaker Award.