FELA! (B'way) Reviews

Today is Monday, November the 23rd, marking the official opening night performance of FELA!, a biographical musical celebrating the life and times of musician and political activist Fela Kuti, playing the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on 49th. Following a run at Off-Broadway's 37 Arts in 2008, FELA! began preview performances on Broadway October 19th.

Sahr Ngaujah, who headlined the Off-Broadway run, now alternates in the title role with Kevin Mambo. The principal cast also features Tony winner Lillias White as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's mother, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, and Saycon Sengbloh as his love interest, Sandra.

Rounding-out the FELA! company are Corey Baker, Hettie Barnhill, Nicole Chantal DeWeever, Lauren Deveaux, Elasea Douglas, Rujeko Dumbutshena, Catherine Foster, Talu Green, Shaneeka Harrell, Abena Koomson, Ismael Kouyate, Gelan Lambert, Farai M. Malianga, Shakira Marshall, Afi McClendon, Adesola Osakalumi, Jeffrey Page, Daniel Soto, Jill M. Vallery, J.L. Williams, Iris Wilson and Aimee Graham Wodobode.

Bill T. Jones (TONY winning choreographer for SPRING AWAKENING), directs and choreographs the production that features a book by Mr. Jones and Jim Lewis and utilizes Anikulapo-Kuti's own music for the score. Jim Lewis also penned additional lyrics. The original concept for the musical was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel. This incarnation incorporates the Afrobeat orchestra Antibalas and other members of the NYC Afrobeat community, under the direction of Aaron Johnson, who perform Kuti's pulse-pounding music live onstage.

In FELA!, "audiences are welcomed into the extravagant, decadent and rebellious world of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti," begin press notes. "Using his pioneering music (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies), [the musical] explores Kuti's controversial life as artist, political activist and revolutionary musician."

I caught the show last Wednesday night (the 18th) and thoroughly enjoyed my evening. Here's to a Happy Opening!

My absolute to all invovled.

Best,
- Mike

Updated On: 11/23/09 at 01:38 AM

I thought it was very strange too. In fact, I hated it.

But I am expecting across the board rave reviews tonight...

Easily the worst thing I have seen on Broadway this season so far. Absolutely terrible.

There are many older review threads from when people saw it in early previews. If you search, you will find people's detailed reviews.

***Possible Spoiler***

And the glow in the dark number where Fela travels through to the other side to talk to his dead mother...

So. Weird.

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I have not seen this show, so I am not challenging any assertions that the thing is terrible. The question I have is more one of taste. Are you saying this show sucks because it is untraditional? I live in NY and when I saw the poster I thought... "Hmm... looks like an African dance show..." Nothing about it said Broadway Musical...

Is the show a musical celebration or is it a "book musical"?

Well, I guess I'll be the voice of dissent on this one. I've seen the show 3 times, and loved it more each time. I'm hoping for raves and at least a long enough run to make it to the Tonys.

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WithoutaTrace--- Would you call it a dance recital? Why do you think it will receive raves if it is, in fact, crap?

I'm just curious about whether the debate is the actual content or its execution?

Is there a story in here?

Lo such sadness I feel to all those here who could not appreciate (much less love) the incendiary "Fela!," a musical (jukebox no less!) that refuses to follow Broadway conventions in either form (with little to no discernable chronology) or in sound. (Afrobeat? Come on! Brilliant!)

What startles me about the above opinions (and I dully note that these are opinions, nothing more) is that most of you (praise to you WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel!) have failed to appreacite how "Fela!" is wonderfully novel.

What a treat was this Saturday’s matinee (proceeding an equally stunning production of "From the House of the Dead" at the Met)! The welcoming music, setting the tone for the production, served as a perfect amuse-bouche. I consider myself (humbly) well versed in music, but the exciting and pounding sounds of afrobeat had alluded me until that moment. Don’t get me wrong: I have long had friends who are obsessed with the genre so I had some familiarity. However, it was only hearing it live was I able to understand how affecting it could be. A glowing cast, energized with more enthusiasm and passion than all of the kids at "Spring Awakening" on their best day, transformed these songs into actual story elements: visual descriptions of what our narrator was explaining and championing. Within two acts, the audience witnessed both the story of Fela and his club, and indeed also the story of afrobeat’s creation and (albeit brief and moderately superficial) a survey of Nigeria’s corrupt political makeup circa 1960 through the 80s. Magical realism is rarely used well in theater, but it was used to great effect here.

What is this? A Broadway of ideas and thoughts? Once more...a play about Africa that doesn’t have to limit itself to AIDS or the atrocities of civil war? NEVER!

Okay, I’m being a little overzealous...but what a fantastic experience! Indeed, it was (perhaps?) the first play in eighteen years of theater going that wasn’t...dare I say...vanilla.

WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel: will you join me in this chant?

"SEE THIS SHOW! SEE THIS SHOW! SEE THIS SHOW! SEE THIS SHOW! SEE THIS SHOW!"

Are you saying this show sucks because it is untraditional? I live in NY and when I saw the poster I thought... "Hmm... looks like an African dance show..." Nothing about it said Broadway Musical...

No no. I am all for untraditional. And I am a dancer, so I love a good dance show. This show is just bad from start to finish. It's completely self-indulgent, and it's just an embodiment of a Bill T. Jones ego trip. There is not one redeeming aspect of it at all. Also, I've done traditional African dance. This just isn't it.

"This show is just bad from start to finish. It's completely self-indulgent, and it's just an embodiment of a Bill T. Jones ego trip."

Self-indulgent is the telling of a muddy, cliche driven, road-tripping musical about what made the protagonist become Ste...I mean great.

Originality is the orchestrating of dance sequences and live music to create a visceral story about a man's life and the creation of a genere (with historical goodies thrown in for good measure).

...just an opinion.

"the creation of a genere"

Did you mean GENRE, dear? Thought so.

Let the fawning praise continue... aka back to sleep...

P (genre)

"Did you mean GENRE, dear? Thought so."

Ooohhhhh, Snap! Pgenre strikes again! Dude you are my hero.

Sanuja: totally agree, and indeed, it was that "petulant, bratty, and ridiculous" whining that prompted me to post in the first place.

Blaxx: I digress, and for that I apologize.