The Scottsboro Boys | Signature Theatre | 3 out of 4 Stars
By Kyle Osborne
Kander and Ebb were/are/forever will be known for Cabaret and Chicago and for the song New York, New York, among their large and celebrated body of work. Less well known is their 2010 musical (which was finished long after Fred Ebb’s death in 2004) The Scottsboro Boys, now playing at Signature Theatre through July 1st.
Set as a show within a show, the musical tells the true story of nine African American teenagers who were accused of raping two white women on a train in 1931. Not exactly the setting for fun and games and, indeed, one wonders during the two-hour, one act show, whether it’s okay to be so entertained by such a tragic, ugly time in American history.
Aramie Payton, Joseph Monroe Webb, Clarence Norris, Lamont Walker II, Malik Akil, C.K. Edwards, DeWitt Fleming, Jr. and Jonathan Adriel. Photo by C Stanley Photography
The cast are, except for one, African American men appearing in a Minstrel Show, the once popular, yet horribly racist variety shows that combined song and dance with jokes and skits based on racial stereotypes. Kander and Ebb used this device to reinforce the themes of racial injustice inherent in the story they’re recounting.
This sets up an interesting dynamic for the audience— how to receive a story of hate, pain and shame, juxtaposed with beautiful singing, dazzling dancing and gorgeous choreography. Director Joe Calarco leads the cast along a razor-thin line between pleasure and pain. Sometimes tugging us across that line into discomfort before pulling us back with a laugh.
Chaz Alexander Coffin, and Stephen Scott Wormley (By Christopher Mueller)
While each of the many actors gets the chance to make their characters distinct, Stephen Scott Wormley and Chaz Alexander Coffin as Mr. Bones and Tambo are given room to have fun, playing multiple characters (both black and white) within the various scenes. Lamont Walker II gets the spotlight as Haywood Patterson, and breaks hearts with his solo singing turns.
You won’t find yourself humming the songs the next day—you probably won’t even remember them. And there’s an overly obvious move at curtain call that seems like…too much? What you’re left with, finally, is heavy content put forward with a nice touch.
Lamont Walker II (C. Stanley Photography)
The Scottsboro Boys continues at Signature Theatre through July 1st. For tickets and more information, please visit: http://www.sigtheatre.org