Online Only: Memphis rocks the house
A one, a two, a one, two three four! Rock and roll music radically changed the United States with its fast rhythms and its mischievous lyrics. The transition from soft and conservative music to hot and heavy rock and roll did not occur over night but took time for people to adjust. Young musicians, both black and white, struggled for years to gain acceptance into the main music sphere. The musical Memphis highlights this struggle and how one man can help initiate this change. With a dynamic cast, well-deveoped set and rockin' music, the musical Memphis is a must-see.
The first scene opens on a club downtown on Bills Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Singing as the star of the club every night is Felicia Farrell (Felicia Boswell, National Tour: Dreamgirls), whose older brother Delray Jones (Quentin Earl Darrington, National Tour: Lion King) owns and runs the club. One unexpected night Huey Calhoun (Bryan Fenkart) enters the club and much to everyone's surprise, is a huge fan of soul music. Calhoun eventually lands a job as a disc jockey for a radio station and starts spreading his love for soul music. After becoming the most popular DJ in all of Memphis, Calhoun gets his own TV show, featuring rock and roll music and groovy dancing. As his career blossoms, so does the romance between him and Felicia despite Delray's objections. Trouble falls upon the happy couple when they face some white supremacists, outraged by the interracial couple's public display of affection. More tension arises when a huge controversy ensues on one of Calhoun's broadcasts with Felicia and his career and romance with his love Felicia is on the line. In the end, Calhoun's love for rock and roll and Felicia never stay strong.
A mix between Hairspray and Ragtime, the music of Memphis features big energy showstoppers as well as songs that will touch your soul. The first musical numbers, "Underground" and "Music of my Soul," capture the soul behind rock and roll music. Both songs are well-written and allow the performers to showcase their voices. In Act 2, the song "Stand Up" moves the audience with its message and although this song resembles "I Know Where I've Been" from Hairspray, the marching beat and encouraging lyrics serve to inspire and motivate those struggling to achieve racial inequality. Calhoun's final solo, "Memphis Lives in Me," tugs at audience's hearts as he pays tribute to the place that he called home for his whole life.
Every member of the cast, from the ensemble to lead roles, shines spectacularly in this musical. The leading couple, played by Fenkart and Boswell, do an amazing job of commanding the stage and connecting with each other on-stage. Darrington, Felicia's older brother, and Rhett George, Gator, give outstanding performances as well, belting out every song and Will Mann easily proves that big guys can have the moves, too. Playing the role of Huey's mother, Julie Johnson (Broadway: Candide), entertains everybody in the house with her soulful number "Change Don't Come Easy." Her ability to belt out a song with attitude is simply astounding. The rest of the cast keeps up the energy through all the music numbers, full of quick choreography and challenging scores.
The scenic and lighting designers deserve a round of applause for their work on Memphis. The set is incredibly versatile, as the main background of the set turns and collapses, allowing for smooth transitions. For the club scenes, the set resembles that of a warehouse, with a staircase jutting out and windows along the bottom of the second floor. Then for scenes at the TV station, the staircase collapses inward and the windows are full of light. With this innovative background and other transforming pieces, the audience feels the Memphis atmosphere and 1950s setting very easily. Since Memphis features the sounds of rock and roll, no orchestra is needed and the swinging band is on-stage with the actors and is well incorporated into the set. The lighting also helps capture the essence of rock and roll with vibrant blues and reds. The most clever use of light occurs when Calhoun plays the first rock and roll record. As soon as he turns it on, the lights go out and a singing trio appears on the balcony, surrounded by a large black circle. A red light is shined on them from the back, giving the illusion that the singing group is inside the record performing.
Memphis, winner of 4 Tony Awards, is a great, vibrant musical that any rock and roll lover will enjoy. The cast, full of talented singers and dancers, will make you want to put on your dancing shoes and tear down the house.
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