Jaguar XJ and Phylicia Rashad Conjur Magic--On Stage and On the Road; The Play's the Thing But the Beast is Mighty

I've been "in love" with actress Phylicia Rashad for years so it should come as no surprise that I was all smiles and Gomer Pyle-goofy when I got to meet her after a recent performance of Every Tongue Confess at Arena Stage.

She was genuinely warm and solicitous as she greeted me, my wife Geri, son Christopher, brother Edward and sister-in-law June, who has known her for more than a decade.

Ms. Rashad (in red) with Geri, Chris and me.

Ms. Rashad’s talent commands attention, whether she’s attorney and mom Clair Huxtable in The Cosby Show reruns; Lena Younger in Diddy's TV revival of A Raisin in the Sun, or Mother Sister in Every Tongue Confess, an experimental drama that explores the mystery and mysticism behind church burnings in the South.

It is not a role for a prissy ingénue whose principal credit is on YouTube. Ms. Rashad’s character is a meaty lead in a work that demands veteran experience to satisfy the physical and emotional requirements of the play written by Marcus Gardley, who teaches at UMass Amherst.

Our wonderful family outing began with a ride to the new Arena Stage in a new 2011 Jaguar XJ, which starts at around $72,000, and is worth every cent. Indian carmaker Tata Motors deserves a standing ovation for adding the marquee brand to its stable.

Arena Stage

         What an experience to ride in such elegance to an elegant destination to be entertained and later greeted by one of the most elegant actresses appearing on stage, TV and film (remember, Ms. Rashad is in Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls).

The Jag’s opening act is a symphony of contours accentuated by an ample boot and silver grill that’s almost garish but manages to maintain the car’s dignity.

The second act is a voluptuous interior wrapped in leather, fabulous veneers and off-the-chain features, many of which have nothing to do with driving: leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, sumptuous leather seats that provide air-conditioning in the summer, heating in the winter, and massage to driver and front-seat passenger; personal temp settings; electronic safety sensors; large video display with rear camera, USB for connecting mobile media, and a studio-quality sound system that captures HD and sat radio.

The final act is a special transportation experience powered by rear-wheel drive, six-speed automatic powered by a V-8 that cranks out up to 510 hp, depending on trim selected.

Bottom line: This beauty is a beast. The Jag is really two cars in one—a luxury ride that will impress any Fortune 500 type and (with the push of a button) a sports car with tight suspension and steering, paddle shifters in manual mode and the muscle to boast, “I am Jaguar, hear me roar.”

As we head home, I ponder my blessings—the love of family, the pains and pleasures of living in metro DC, Arena’s beautiful makeover, Ms. Rashad’s powerful stage performance, and piloting a stunning creation that enhances my life in the driver’s seat.