BWW Reviews: FELA! Tour is "Priceless"

I remember how shocked and surprised I was when the Shakespeare Theatre announced it would be presenting the Tony-nominated musical Fela! I was fortunate to see this unique and unforgettable evening of theater on Broadway.  

Ngaujah is reprising his role as legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti who revolutionized the music world with his soulful Afrobeat rhythms by singing, dancing and playing the saxophone and trumpet. You could say he was the Elvis Pressley of Nigeria.

But he was much more than a singer. He was inspired by his mother, a civil rights champion, and did not shy away from attempting to correct the corrupt and oppressive military regime in his country. Because of this, he was continually harassed by the government and placed in jail on numerous occasions. His home was virtually destroyed, his 82 year-old mother was killed after being thrown from an upstairs window, and after serving two years in prison was released after international musicians like David Byrne and Peter Gabriel united with Amnesty International to achieve his release. You may wonder now...how and why do a musical about this complex individual?

Well, you start with his large and popular compendium of songs he composed. Then you hire acclaimed director and choregrapher, Bill T. Jones (most recently a 2010 Kennedy Center honoree). Next you assemble a design team made up of Marina Draghici (Scenic and Costume Designer), Robert Wierzel (Lighting Designer), Robert Kaplowitz (Sound Designer) and Peter Nigrini (Projection Designer). Then you hire a cast of 24 who can move and dance and sing like you've never seen before on a Broadway stage. Finally, you need an onstage band comprised of ten fabulous musicians under the baton of AaRon Johnson. They play almost the entire evening.

The Shakespeare Theatre is the first stop on the Fela tour. Try as hard as you can to get a ticket at the Sidney Harman Hall because, at least in my mind, it's "priceless".

I wish it could be extended beyond October 9. For tickets call 202-5547-1122 or visit www.ShakespeareTheatre.org. Also visit www.felaonbroadway.com.

Also at the Lansburgh Theatre is the hysterical production the Heir Apparent playing until October 23.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

Photo by Monique Carboni