Talawa’s high-spirited jazz musical Play On! premieres this week at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre. The play has been produced as part of the company’s Black Joy season, fitting the theme like a dream - Play On! is joyful from start to finish.

The story is a twist on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, but don’t worry if you’re unfamiliar with the Elizabethan version - no prior knowledge is needed. Play On! takes place in New York City’s Cotton Club in the 1940s, and combines the music of Duke Ellington - performed live on stage by the excellent band, under the musical direction of Ashton Moore - with street dance choreography by Kenrick H2O Sandy, and exceptional performances from the whole company.  

Music is the order of the day, with the play’s title taken straight from Twelfth Night’s first line: “If music be the food of love, play on…” Music is accounted for, with a song list packed full of The Duke’s hits (It Don’t Mean a Thing, Mood Indigo, I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good and many, many more) - so love must also be on the table…

Aspiring songwriter Viola (Tsemaye Bob-Egbe) arrives at the Cotton Club, hoping to learn from the best in the business. On discovering that The Duke won’t teach women, she disguises herself as a man (‘Vyman’) and tries her luck. The Duke (Earl Gregory) has songwriter’s block, love-struck for the Cotton Club’s resident diva - Lady Liv (Koko Alexandra). The Duke sends his new protégé to sweet-talk Lady Liv into trying out their new song, but Liv is enchanted by the quick-witted, sensitive Vyman, and sets out to do some wooing of her own. 

Meanwhile the tightly-buttoned Rev (Cameron Bernard Jones) only has eyes for Lady Liv, and will do anything to keep her happy - even if it makes the rest of the Club’s performers miserable. As revenge, Miss Mary (Tanya Edwards), Sweets (Lifford Shillingford) and Jester (Llewellyn Jamal) teach Rev, who definitely ain’t got that swing, how to loosen up and declare his love. 

The play is slick and vibrant, with a bright but elegantly simple set and costume design - allowing the cast to shine, and keeping focus on the impressive ensemble’s performances. Llewellyn Jamal’s Jester sets the pace for the show as the central figure in the opening dance number, and draws the audience in like a Shakespearean Fool, with a few lines from Twelfth Night slipped into his dialogue - it’s a nice touch.

The vocal performances are really impressive - Tsemaye Bob-Egbe has incredible range, and is very convincing when in disguise as her male alter ego. It’s also no mean feat for Koko Alexandra, who has to emulate the great jazz voices of the 1940s - she makes it look effortless, and took the audience by storm.

Play On! Is a production to lift the spirits and get toes tapping, with a talented cast and, naturally, a top quality soundtrack - catch it while you can.

Five Stars

Play On! was reviewed by Jessica Clixby at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre, where it shows until Saturday 5 October. It also plays at Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 6 - Saturday 9 November.

Photo © EllieKurtt