I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in a musical about the racist and flawed American legal system of the 1930s and its impact on nine innocent young black men accused of rape but I was blown away with the humour and skill in which this important story was told.
It starts with an explosion of happy energy as we meet the nine young guys about to embark on a train journey across the Southern states. You’re then forced to laugh at the antics of Colman Domingo and Forrest McClendon whilst feeling almost ashamed that you remember the Minstrel shows of the 1960s and 1970s which the show parodies.
There’s only one white person in the cast – who looks decidedly like Colonel Sanders. The way in which the players portray deceitful young white girls, strutting red-neck prison officers and just about every awful lawyer stereotype you can imagine is artful. The singing and (tap) dancing is skilful. The deep South culture is evoked through musical genius (banjos and harmonicas included) and touching harmonies. The link to the Montgomery Bus Boycott is delicately woven into each scene to show the impact of the boy’s plight on the Civil Rights movement.
The staging and set is simplistic – just a few chairs that are seamlessly rearranged to become a train, a court house and a prison. And back again. And all the way through I laughed out loud at the characterisations and witty asides of the cast.
It’s utterly mesmerising and you can’t help but feel the pain, disbelief, frustration and despair as the nine teenagers’ hopes are raised and then dashed again through numerous retrials. There’s an ironic undercurrent around the advice that “The truth will set you free”.
My 20-something son, who accompanied me, was equally impressed. This demonstrates the story’s timeless appeal, the brilliant production and the obvious talent of the players. It runs for an hour and 45 minutes without an interval.
It’s no wonder that it was a sell out at the Young Vic and that it won so many awards. So grab your chance to see it now at The Garrick. Further details: http://www.scottsboromusicallondon.com/
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