It says ‘Black Joy’ on the poster and there is certainly an overwhelming wave of Black Joy on the stage in this stunning musical.
From the very start, I found myself grinning like the proverbial child faced with a wall of sweets, only this confectionery really is. The story is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night with mistaken identity, gender swap and the search for love intact. All done to Duke Ellington music with the live band – such a wonderful quintet – easing the characters into each song.
(The Duke and Vyman/Viola)
The setting is Harlem, deep in the 1940s New York jazz scene. In falls the hopeful Tsemaye Bob-Egbe as Viola, desperate to sell her music to The Duke, smoothly played and sung by Earl Gregory. She falls in love with him, but, ‘women can’t write songs’ so she has to don a male disguise and become Vyman.
The woman that the Duke adores is Lady Viv, played by Koko Alexandra. She’s a famous nightclub singer and, in turns, she falls for Vyman.
(Jester, Rev, Miss Mary and Sweets)
Undercutting this storyline is the comedy. Lady Viv’s assistant is Rev (in the Malvolio role). Cameron Bernard Jones’ uptight and ridiculous character shines brightly. He loves Lady Viv, too. The staff (Shakespeare’s Feste, Sir Toby Belch and Maria) are Jester, Sweets and Miss Mary. This trio creates the farce and mayhem at Rev’s expense, instructing him how to win Lady Viv’s heart. Llewellyn Jamal, Lifford Shillingford and Tanya Edwards play these three – all with smiles on their faces and songs in their hearts.
(Rev and Lady Viv)
Director Michael Buffong has a palpable hit here. People leave the theatre humming the tunes and laughing – full of joy! The live music with the ensemble’s wonderful dancing (choreographed by Kenrick Sandy), pitched within the joyous performances of the cast all add up to a marvellous show.
(The ensemble)
Talawa Theatre has toured Play On! around the UK already. It’s a co-production with numerous theatres and has already visited Coventry, Liverpool, Salisbury, Birmingham and Bristol before stopping in Hammersmith. I think this feel-good show deserves a bigger audience – more touring and a West End run. It would please everyone and there’s nothing wrong with that!
Photography Ellie Kurttz Creator Sheldon Epps Book Cheryl L West Director Michael Buffong Musical Supervisor Liam Godwin Musical Director Ashton Moore Choreographer Kenrick Sandy
Venue Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King Street, London W6 0QL Until Saturday 22nd February
Tickets and showtimes lyric.co.uk/shows/play-on Running Time 150 minutes – this includes a 20-minute interval
Websites www.talawa.com Instagram @talawatc Facebook @TalawaTheatreCompany X/Twitter @TalawaTheatreCo