0
Duke Ellington is energetically entwined with Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in jazz musical Play On! Set to dazzle audiences with toe-tapping melodies and show stopping numbers at the Liverpool Playhouse tonight.
The ancient world of Orsino has been majestically transported to Duke Ellington and The Cotton Club of 1940s New York, and the magnetic backdrop of the Harlem renaissance, a complex court, beset with power struggles and unrequited love.
Enter stage left, the young and talented Viola, who is looking for her ‘Uncle Cootie’, who she hopes will help her follow her dreams, but instead finds he has created himself an alter ego – The Cotton Club Casanova… Jester.
This is the audience’s initiation into the identity issues that will plague Viola’s path towards her creative ambitions, finding love and being able to celebrate her true self.
Aspiring songwriter Viola, is coerced into posing as a boy called ‘Vyman’, by her uncle, who tells her in no uncertain terms that women have no place in the world creating melodies.
Vyman (played with subtle aplomb by Tsemaye Bob-Egbe) sets about dealing with the role, she has been given to play by Jester, and goes along with the facade, in order to enter The Duke’s inner circle of musicians.
The Duke, has fallen melancholic, after losing the attention of his muse, singer Lady Liv (Koko Alexandra), and in turn sees an opportunity, in young eager Vyman, who he sends to entice her back to his court with new songs.
Lady Liv in turn, falls for the smooth talking and passionate Vyman, who is now besotted with the Duke (Earl Gregory).
Stage manager Rev, has also let his love for Lady Liv known to the rest of the club and they take great pleasure in coaching him to unwind his stiff manners and woo her with music.
The second act of the show really goes to town in unravelling the complex web of identity issues and matches the right lovers together in a soul satisfying harmony of incredible song and dance.
Duke’s band, who are present throughout and slide back and forth on an enchanting and illuminated stage, really kick every number up a notch. Bringing out the best from Kenrick H2O Sandy’s captivating choreography.
Opening with a stellar version of I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues, sung by Lady Liv, which leads swiftly to the fantastically updated Malvolio yellow stockings scene… which sees stiff Rev, loosen up and swing while he sings: I’m Beginning To See The Light, to his crush, in a Kid Creole zoot suit.
Looking and sounding sensational, Rev (Cameron Bernard Jones) shows he can also dance, which is a long way removed from the abject humiliation Malvolio suffers at the behest of Shakespeare’s quill in Twelfth Night.
The further the show stretches from its Shakespearean source, the better it gets. The subplot of Sweets and Miss Mary, who have lost the spark of their love, in servitude, could be explored deeper… as their story seems to speak more to the modern condition, where we can feel lost and less able to celebrate our love, due to meeting work or peer group pressure.
But then, each cast member gets a chance to shine, in a series of show stopping numbers. Including Sweets and Jester, who once spurned, turn to whisky and treat audience to a rocking rendition of Rocks In My Bed.
Directed by Talawa Theatre Company Artistic Director Michael Buffong, this production was lovingly crafted over three years, which shows in its quality and exuberance and will hopefully inspire a new generation to seek out more timeless stories from The Bard, ripe for re-imagination.
We suppose… Some shows are born great, some shows become great and some shows have greatness thrust upon them. This musical is all three of those and more. Join the joy and see it while you can.
Purple Revolver rating: 5 Stars – an exceptional theatrical treat from start to finish.