FELA! Reviews

AM New York is Mixed (2 1/2 Stars out of 4):

'...in terms of dramatic structure, the show is an unapologetic, undisciplined mess. Mr. Jones has attempted to cram as much of Fela's pained experiences into a single evening, including jail, torture and seeing his mother thrown out a window. It's all rather difficult to take in.

The resulting creation, which resembles an elaborate college thesis paper, is likely to please only those who already appreciate Fela's personality. But given the intense inspiration and commitment that runs through the show, we'd really like to see "Fela!" get fixed up.'

http://www.amny.com/entertainment/stage/am-fela0905,0,1906390.story

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TheaterMania is Mixed-to-Positive:

'...The show -- conceived by Jones with Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel and featuring a book by Lewis and Jones -- is staged as a 1977 farewell concert, as Fela (Sahr Ngaujah) gets ready to leave Nigeria following a government crackdown that resulted in the death of his mother, Funmilayo (Abena Koomson). As Fela speaks directly to the audience, he sings some of his most well-known compositions such as "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense" and talks about his life, politics, and music -- including his formation of the Afrobeat sound, which fuses jazz, funk, and traditional African chanting.

The main drawback to this structure is that the details of Fela's life are awkwardly told to the audience in expositional patter. Since Fela does most of the talking, there's also little opportunity to create a multi-dimensional portrait of the artist. We see a little of his temper, in moments when he yells at the onstage band, making them start songs over. The strongest relationship developed within the show is between mother and son, with Funmilayo occasionally making beyond the grave appearances, accompanied by a somewhat cheesy lighting effect by designer Robert Wierzel. The only other character to be identified by name in the program is Sandra (Sparlha Swa), a Black Power activist that Fela meets on a trip to America. However, none of the supporting players -- including various individuals portrayed by ensemble members -- are given much depth of characterization...'

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/15089

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8 more days...on the same day as Tempest. What a combination...could they be any further apart on the spectrum?

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The New York Sun is Mixed-to-Positive:

'If any musician were to warrant a jukebox musical right now, it would be the one with the moxie to release an album called "Black President" and the chops to back it up.

That record came out almost 30 years ago, and it's one of many scorching titles by Nigeria's Fela Anikulapo Kuti, he of the 27 wives and the 200 arrests and the martyred mother. Kuti's Afrobeat sound may have drawn liberally from other musical giants, among them the Chairman of the Board and the Godfather of Soul. But as the boisterous and somewhat ramshackle new musical "Fela!" makes clear, these self-anointed icons could have learned (and, in the latter case, actually did learn) a thing or two about how to make hips shake, fists raise, pulses quicken, and minds soar from this mercurial, priapic master. Director/choreographer/co-writer Bill T. Jones, a modern-dance legend who has dipped his toe into commercial theater (his "Spring Awakening" choreography won a Tony last year), struggles to craft this overstuffed life into a digestible package...'

http://www.nysun.com/arts/shaking-hips-and-raising-fists-fela/85217/

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Thanks for posting, Bustopher.

After Riedel praised it so highly, I'm curious to see how it is received, and whether or not it will make it to the Great White Way.

"if you set aside your basic nervous and circulatory systems, though, you might observe that by the standards of the well-made musical, “Fela!” leaves a lot to be desired."

how can a review that includes that, be a rave?

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Wow.

John Simon... is a Rave:

'...But what connects, enlivens and emblazons it all is the vivacity of Jones's choreography, which I can't begin to convey but must attempt to nevertheless. It includes aspects of everything from ballet to modern dance, athletics to acrobatics, sensual earthbound wallowing to winglessly winged flight. It is tastefully erotic and controlledly abandoned, animal and ultra- human.

When, at its unsurpassable post-curtain-call 10-minute climax, a 20th dancer joins in -- Jones himself -- the audience reaction may well be the most wall-shaking since Joshua blew his fabled horn.'

Wow.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601098&sid=atzOJAkWZKrA&refer=movie

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The New York Daily News is Very Positive (4 Stars out of 5):

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2008/09/05/2008-09-05_the_infectious_revel_of_fela.html

The Newark Star-Ledger is Positive:

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2008/09/a_most_energetic_fela.html

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Updated On: 9/5/08 at 09:13 AM

The Post gave it three and a half out of four stars.

Thanks, Joe !!! It was a blast ! Really need this show to transfer-

The audience participation (when everyone had to stand and "attempt" to dance) was great !