Play On! by conceived by Sheldon Epps - ★★★★☆
Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1930s Harlem and the legendary Cotton Club, Play On! is a bustling jazz musical packed with the iconic sounds of Duke Ellington. Directed by Michael Buffong, artistic director of Talawa Theatre, and inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the show brings Harlem’s golden era to life with high-energy performances and sensational live music.
At its heart, Play On! is a tale of a small girl in a big city. Viola (Tsemaye Bob-Egbe), later known as Vyman, is a talented and ambitious songwriter chasing her big break in Harlem. Her Uncle Jester (Llewellyn Jamal) takes her under his wing, but due to discrimination against women in the music industry, Vy is forced to pose as a man to be taken seriously. And so, Vyman is born.
Alongside Vyman and the seasoned Uncle Jester, the Cotton Club is home to a host of colorful characters. There’s Rev (Cameron Bernard Jones), the club’s strict and uptight leader, Lady Liv (Koko Alexandra), the dazzling superstar and occasional diva, her heartbroken ex-lover, The Duke (Earl Gregory) and the endlessly entertaining duo, Sweets (Lifford Shillingford) and Miss Mary (Tanya Edwards), whose playful squabbles and meddling ways add warmth and humuor to the show. Each character has their own story to tell, from Rev’s struggle to loosen up and confess his feelings for Lady Liv to the broader question of whether the glitz and glamour of the Cotton Club is truly where they belong.
The show brims with energy, hair-raising vocals, and a stellar ensemble. Koko Alexandra is a force to be reckoned with as Lady Liv, her voice effortlessly shifting between powerful belts and delicate melodies. Sweets and Mary are hands down the most loveable duo on stage - Edwards and Shillingford bring a natural authenticity to their roles, never missing a beat whether they’re front and centre or playfully bickering in the background. Shillingford, in particular, delivers smooth, velvety vocals throughout. Bob-Egbe is an endearingly goofy Vyman, playing the role with charm and ease, while Jamal brings an incredible fluidity to Uncle Jester’s movements.
While Harlem’s premier nightclub provides a rich backdrop, the production could have done more with set design and costumes to fully capture the glamour and vibrancy of the era. Act I opens with electric energy, and the finale is just as exhilarating, but Act II loses some of its pace in comparison.
That said, Play On! remains a dazzling, vivacious jazz musical, made all the better by its phenomenal live band swinging away on stage.
★★★★☆
Play On! is showing at Lyric Hammersmith until 22 February.