Birmingham Hippodrome – until 9th November 2024
Reviewed by Emma Millward
4****
** Due to cast illnesses, this performance was adapted to a shortened ‘concert version’ of the songs from the show, with full costume and the live band alongside a story line narration. **
Live theatre is often unpredictable, and situations can arise at the last minute to test even the most prepared theatre company. Last night’s performance of Play On! at the Birmingham Hippodrome was one of those unpredictable nights. Due to cast illnesses, including the production’s leading lady, Tsemaye Bob-Egbe as Viola/Vyman, The Talawa Theatre Company took the difficult decision to adapt last night’s show and perform a 70 minute ‘concert’ version. The show featured the songs and choreography, but with much less dialogue.
The show is based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night reimagined in the Jazz Era of 1940s Harlem. It began life in 1997, conceived by original director Sheldon Epps, with a book by Cheryl L. West. The show has never been performed in the United Kingdom. Talawa Theatre Company is a Black British theatre company that decided to revive the show and bring it to British audiences. The show features Duke Ellington’s music.
After an understandable short delay, the show began with director Michael Buffong explaining the situation. Buffong became our on-stage narrator throughout. Sat to the left of the stage, joining the audience in witnessing the immense talent that his cast proved they possessed throughout the performance. Although it was to be a concert-style performance with the cast given chairs set out on the stage, the cast still gave it their all, with their character’s mannerisms and facial expressions often drawing laughter from the audience. Rather than just performing each song one by one, Michael Buffong’s narration weaves a story and connection between them. The story of unrequited love, sexism, and ultimately acceptance.
We meet lovelorn Duke (Earl Gregory) and Rev (Cameron Bernard Jones), who have both fallen for Lady Liv (Koko Alexandra), a singer at Harlem’s famous Cotton Club. Throughout the show, Miss Mary (Tanya Edwards), Sweets (Lifford Shillingford), and Jester (Llewellyn Jamal) all try to help Rev woo Lady Liv. This sets the scene for probably the funniest part of the show. Rev shows up in a bright yellow zoot suit to sing ‘I’m Beginning To See the Light’ for Lady Liv to try to win her affection. The way Cameron Bernard Jones moved around the stage spinning and lunging in his striking suit left the audience in fits of giggles. A special mention must be given to Koko Alexandra as Lady Liv. Her vocals were amazing and pitch-perfect, especially during ‘I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues’. The band led by Ashton Moore, who were onstage throughout, were also outstanding.
Against all odds, Talawa Theatre Company and its exceptionally talented cast provided an exciting and toe-tapping performance that they should be very proud of. The prolonged standing ovation at the end speaks for itself. While it may not have been the show the audience expected to see, as the saying goes… the show must go on, and the cast proved that they can ‘Play On!’