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Fringe Musical
2007 |
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HHHH |
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www.
one4review
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Bennie
Othella & The Jets: The
Musical True-crime story of an American idol…
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&
her extremely Jealous Backup singer
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'Benny
Othella & The Jets' created and directed by Eric Schrode with
his usual flair, introducing various forms of popular music in to a
Shakespearean play.
Bennie
J Othella (Taylor Lasley), leading popular singer and diplomat of
the times is unaware of tension amongst her backing group as she
chooses her new solo-singer. The success of MeShell MaBelle (Ellie
Bensinger) is not popular with either Candy Jagger (Taylor Heisley-Cook)
or Ronnie Riga (Amanda Giuliano), as one expected to get the solo
job and the other is in love with Othella’s man. This is only part
of the problem as Othella's marriage to The Demon Des (Julian Hicks)
mixed race relationships are easily subjected to doubts, especially
when Mrs Desmond (Maddy Sprung-Keyser) is totally aghast at the
relationship.
These
young performers are all exceptionally talented and the fact that
they are totally at ease performing a mixture of traditional
Shakespeare, modern dance and pop music shows what can be done with
ability and determination.
As
with all his adaptations Eric keeps the essence of the storyline but
adds his own twists by transposing the sexes and altering settings,
he also utilises the individual talents of all his performers.
His occasionally strange choice of contemporary music always
seems to fit in well in the context of the play.
Especially as most of them would not have been born when the
songs were popular or perhaps not even heard of the source
particularly his use of Leonard Cohen.
Had
Shakespeare been taught like this in UK schools I think we would
have more converts who enjoy this type of production. I look forward
to the return of The HWS Rembiko Project, probably in two years time
for Fringe 2009.
****
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S
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Fringe Programme Page No
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160
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Company
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HWS
Rembiko
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Venue Name and Number
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Roxy
Art House V115
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Dates and Times
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4th, 6th,9th,11th,14th,16th and 18th August
20.25
to 21.55
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press at one4review.co.uk
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