The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin

[Phantom of London]

Playing until March 11th at the Stratford East Theatre, then transferring to Coventry, Belgrade.

We are full on in the Ski Season right now - After having a musical week seeing Dreamgirls, The Phantom of the Opera and Book of Mormon, I thought I go a bit off-piste and see this.

This started live off-Broadway at the Playwright Horzons and making its European premier in Stratford.

The title isn't the only thing that is strange, I found this to be very baffling, as the book seemed to be contrite and this added to the confusion. What I could make out is a black girl who wants to be a white girl princess just like a doll she owns in Los Angeles and grows up and wants to dance on Broadway in New York, if you find my description irresistible - Book Now.

In all fairness this musical spoke for a time of a troubled and divided America, which we maybe going full circle now, so a poignant time to bring this to a East London audiences.

This got mixed reviews from New York critics, including a rave from from the New York Times but there is a reason why it only played off-Broadway.

So if going off-piste is your thing, but beware there are good reasons why you are advised to stay on the main runs!!

2 Stars

[Mr Snow]

With a title like that I'd assumed this was headed for Edinburgh FF!


Can you tell us a little about the music?

[k8]

there's a song here

[jek]

Took my teenage daughter to see this last night (we live so nearby that we can hear the end of the Archers and be in the Theatre Royal for curtain up at 7.30pm). I have to say that it was going down really well with the audience. It's very Stratford East in that it is loud and not at all subtle and certainly striking a chord with the people watching it (lots of shouted agreement with the experience of the characters). Some amazingly high energy performances and, with all the doubling up that is going on, the cast must be exhausted by the end of the show. We'd seen Karis Jack, who plays the young Viveca, in both Urinetown and Baddies at the Unicorn so knew she had proper charisma. I would love to see lots of local youngsters seeing the show - the civil rights theme and the relatable young cast - would make for both enjoyment and some no doubt heated discussions on the way home.