Saturday, 23 July 2011

Fela review, Sadler's Wells

Fela won a load of Tonys on Broadway but failed to impress the Brits when it opened at The Olivier last November. The production didn't suit the space. It was too fast, too noisy, didn't have a story to speak of and it was Nigerian. The National is great for tribal, historical stuff from the dark continent, but it struggled with a contemporary story requiring audience interaction. The Africans alongside sang and clapped, but the rest of us were acutely self-conscious.

Each of his wives got a pink pounding
At Sadler's Wells,  Fela has found a natural home. The high rise auditorium is perfect for a production that is more an event than a musical. The sound resonates up and down the walls and the dancing is spectacular. Sahr Ngaujah flourishes as Fela (the role is shared with Adesola Osakalumi) and the fit feels right. It's a different night out.

The weakness that previously dogged the show was a narrative thread with little style or tension. In a dedicated dance space, where the storyline is secondary to the music and the movement, it doesn't matter that we never really get to know Fela Kuti, King of Afrobeat. This condensed Wiki biog of his extraordinary life of protest, excess and brilliance is an excuse for a good night out and the audience is a pleasure in itself: lively, stylish, ethnically mixed, young, and fully engaged. Proof that if you find the right vehicle and the right space there are keen, hungry, new punters with money to spend and energy to spare. 

In conclusion: If you like Afrobeat you'll love this show, co-written, directed and choreographed by Bill T Jones. The music's great, the singing is superb and the dancing is deliriously happy-making.  If, however, you're looking for a meaningful exploration of the life of Fela Kuti, this is not it.

References
Michael Coveney in Whatsonstage reviews Fela at The Olivier  
Wiki on Fela Kuti
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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous25 July 2011 at 00:26

    Don't know if it's more or less meaningful, but this podcast piece on Fela might be of interest ...

    http://explore.raditaz.com/2011/06/26/coming-soon-on-music-moves-fela-kalakuta-and-independence/

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  2. Shyama25 July 2011 at 08:38

    The real Fela with a steaming slow burn intro which can't be risked in a dramatisation. It's brilliant. Thank you for posting the URL:)

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  3. Jonathan27 July 2011 at 23:09

    I agree with much of this review. I was sat in the second circle, so right at the top of the theatre. I did feel we missed out on a large swathe of the story which was told on the screens to the side of the stage and at the back of it. Furthermore, the set was distinctly unimpressive, totally lacking imagination and originality. Whilst the acting, singing, music and dancing were all excellent and contributed to the carnival atmosphere of the first act, the second act was lacking energy and the plot became muddled. About half an hour could be cut from the show and nobody would notice, indeed it would probably help to clarify the central storyline. As someone with more interest in theatre than dance, I felt the show unsuccessfully tried to straddle the two disciplines and, as such, I can't help but feel disappointed.

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  4. Shyama28 July 2011 at 00:26

    The storyline is unreliable. It doesn't explore Fela Kuti's political importance, his polygamy, his drug taking or his death from AIDS. All we have is a series of milestones. It's why it didn't work at The Olivier - it was too chaotic. The flaws were much less intrusive at Sadler's Wells, because it became about spectacle but anyone hoping for a coherent drama will leave disappointed.

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