#1
Posted: 7/9/12 at 10:29pm
I went back to Fela tonight and overall it was great to see again. Sahr hasn't lost any steam even though he's been playing this role for over three years (?) now. When I saw the show during the original run I tried listening to some of Fela's recordings, but I found I preferred listening to Sahr's vocals.
I really believe this is the best bio-musical or play I've ever seen. It's so much more effective to give us a life story in a mosaic fashion like this than in a chronological structure. Going through a life by theme rather than timeline is the way to go.
There are some changes I noticed, and unfortunately they are all for the worse. The first two were physical: the Hirschfeld is not decorated like the Eugene O'Neill and "runway" is not present. I loved sitting in those seats to the left of that runway and it added to the staging. Also (understandably) the row of seats in the middle of the orchestra has not been removed that the actors were able to weave through in the O'Neill.
The other big change was they cut "Teacher." Aside from having a personal preference for this being one of my favorite songs in the show, it really gave Funmilayo some much needed character development; she is Fela's greatest teacher and perhaps in Fela's mind the only honorable teacher in Nigeria.
Still even with the cut song and the reduced environmental staging it's an entertaining, educational and moving evening; the finale is so wonderful. It's definitely a show I never thought I would be able to see again, especially with Sahr, so if nothing else I'm grateful I could experience it one more time.
I really believe this is the best bio-musical or play I've ever seen. It's so much more effective to give us a life story in a mosaic fashion like this than in a chronological structure. Going through a life by theme rather than timeline is the way to go.
There are some changes I noticed, and unfortunately they are all for the worse. The first two were physical: the Hirschfeld is not decorated like the Eugene O'Neill and "runway" is not present. I loved sitting in those seats to the left of that runway and it added to the staging. Also (understandably) the row of seats in the middle of the orchestra has not been removed that the actors were able to weave through in the O'Neill.
The other big change was they cut "Teacher." Aside from having a personal preference for this being one of my favorite songs in the show, it really gave Funmilayo some much needed character development; she is Fela's greatest teacher and perhaps in Fela's mind the only honorable teacher in Nigeria.
Still even with the cut song and the reduced environmental staging it's an entertaining, educational and moving evening; the finale is so wonderful. It's definitely a show I never thought I would be able to see again, especially with Sahr, so if nothing else I'm grateful I could experience it one more time.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
