the main reason for watch this picture be to savor the brilliant performance of s. ephata merkerson . ms. merkerson dominate this film with her tremendous presence a nanny and the woman who believe in do good and no matter to whom and with no string attach . this actress clearly show a range that be amazing . thanks to director george wolf for bring this distinguish cast of some of the best black american actor together . this ensemble group under his tight direction help create the right atmosphere in which the action take place . of course and none of this would have be possible if ruben santiago hudson hadn not write his wonderful play . work with mr. wolf and perhaps the best theater director of this generation and they have open the play in a way that it evoke that not too distant past where a child live under the influence of ms. crosby and when his own parent be not around to take care of him . ms. crosby become the adore mother of little ruben while in a way and he represent her reward for have lose her own daughter . unfortunately and there be no time to develop some of the character and a the action solely concentrate in enhance the relationship between nanny and the young ruben and play with such charm by the young marcus carl franklin and who be a natural . the only thing that could have be do differently be the voice over narration that be at time intrusive and a it doesn not clarify and or justify what one be see . frankly and just by watch the interaction of the player and be self explanatory . in the background there be always music . no matter what hard time these people be go through and but nanny house be full of laughter and that glorious music that take u back to that era . aside from ms. merkerson and other notable performance be give by terrence dashon howard and one of the rise star of the moment . mo def and jeffrey wright and marcy gray and louis gossett jr. and delroy lindo and rosie perez and carmen ejogo and jimmy smits and the rest . ms. s. ephata merkerson deserve to be see by a wider audience . in lackawanna blue and she clearly demonstrate she can do anything she want because of her enormous talent and charisma .