FELA!

THIS IS A MUSICAL THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR REST......
THE STAGE IS SET AT THE EMERSON MAJESTIC. THE TICKETS PURCHASED IN THE LOBBY WHICH IS
ORNATE, BAROQUE ROCCOCO GILDED BAS RELIEF CHERUBS ON THE WALLS AND CEILING....I AM NICELY SURPRISED TO SEE THE SEAT IN THE BALCONY IS UPGRADED TO THE MEZZANINE.
INSIDE, THE MEZZANINE SEATING LOOKS OUT UPON A STAGE THAT IS WAITING...THE LADDERS ARE
AS IF THE SET DESIGNER FORGOT TO PICK UP HIS TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT. WINGS OF THE BACKSTAGE SEEM TO BE IN THE FOREGROUND...THERE IS A BALCONY BORDERING THE TOP....
THEN, I SEE THAT THERE ARE VIDEO SCREENS OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES ABOUT THE WAR IN
NIGERIA...SEARCH LIGHTS SEEMS TO BE ROTATING AT THE TOP OF THE STAGE.
FELA IS THE NAME OF A NIGERIAN AUTHOR ARTIST AND PERFORMER WHO TRAVELLED TO NEW YORK
FROM HIS NATIVE LAND. THE PLAY IS NOT SO QUIET...ALTHOUGH, TO ME, THE TALE IS NOT SO
UNIQUE...HE COMES TO AMERICA AND MARRIES AN AFRICAN AMERICAN...HIS WAR IN NIGERIA
IS BLARING FROM THE START OF THE PLAY......
THE MUSIC AND DANCE IS NOT SLIGHTLY BRASSY BUT BOLD AND BRASSY AND FOR SOME
REASON INHERENT TO THE NIGERIAN CULTURE, THE DANCERS HAVE THE BACKS TO THE AUDIENCE
...POSSIBLY THEIR WIGGLE AND TWIST THAT IS CLAD IN FEATHERS IS BEST DISPLAYED
BUT AT FIRST MANY SETTINGS AND DANCES SEEM RUDE...WHY ARE THEIR (THE DANCERS)
BACKS TO THE AUDIENCE? WHY IS FELA THE LEAD ACTOR SHOUTING SO MANY PREACHY
TALES ABOUT THE WAR IN NIGERIA? WHY IS IT SO LOUD....THE MUSIC IS , AFTER A WHILE
VERY ENERGIZING...THE JAZZ TAP AFTER A WHILE ...SO GREAT TO SEE!
THE FLASHES OF LIGHT, THE SHADOW PLAYS ON THE SCRIM OF FLAMES, CROCODILES,
...THE PHOTOS OF THE TREES IN NIGERIA ON THE SEVERAL VIDEO SCREENS...
IT IS LIKE A FULL PLATE OF GROUND NUT STEW! WITH MANY A SALAD, GLASS OF WINE!
AND A SOFT FACE..NOT HARRY BELAFONTE'S NOT HUGH MASEKELA...BUT THE DECLARATION
OF WE ARE HERE AND NOW AND THIS IS OUR LAND...FELA IS THE FACE ACROSS THE TABLE
A TOAST TO NIGERIA!