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Fela! Reviews
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| 31 |
Strong in every way Review by: Showlover, Jan 5, 2010 |
| Absolutely brilliant all round. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 32 |
Sure to be a fave at tony time!!!! Review by: Leawoodcats, Dec 27, 2009 |
| Saw Fela tonight, and i am a regular broadway theater attendee. This is one of the most unusual and compelling musicals of this or any season. Mambo played the lead roll tonight and brought the SRO audience to its feet, as did the supporting cast of amazing dancers. The band was superb in maintaining the Afrobeat of this wildly entertaining non-stop performer and performance. The show is very interactive, and I would recommend attempting to ... read more have aisle front orchestra seats to add to the experience. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Tourists, Adults
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| 33 |
FELA is " yeah ..YEAH " If you see the play You Would Know what I mean !!! Review by: Javy, Dec 13, 2009 |
Saw the Broadway Play Fela on a Saturday Night. The Music is very Hard as in Decimal Levels, But is very Entertaining and Engaging and it works with the Story Line and Musicians.
If you Never Heard or Experienced Afro Music and Afro Beats, It is Something that needs to be experienced and Taken In. The Lead Actor Commanded the Stage and Held the Story Line Together even though Many People Knew or Heard of FELA.
The Dancers and Supporting ... read more Casts Did their Held their own and Took Opportunity to Entertain and Demonstrate African Dances. I Especially Thought Highly of The Cantor who was Outstanding and His Voice resonated through out the Theater. In All fairness, It IS NOT as Strong As Memphis or Jersey Boys, But I see the Lead Actor nominated for a TONY and Possibly Winning, But If you are diverse as I am, The I say take a group of Close Friends , Or a Great Partner and make a Night of It. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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Large Group
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Tourists, Adults
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| 34 |
Bring Ear Plugs Review by: Carol, Dec 4, 2009 |
| The lead actor is very talented as are the dancers and musicians. The story is engrossing, but the play is so frenetic and LOUD that it has no place to go when it starts at a fever pitch, it cannot build to a climax. It needs to be toned down a good deal because I left the theater with a migraine. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
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| 35 |
FELA MUST BE SEEN or you miss out Review by: BroadwayLover, Dec 1, 2009 |
Fela is a very unique experience
You will NOT find the typical musical theatre structure but something so new so great so unique so irresistible... When you get inside the theatre you see the entire house decorated as the Shrine (the club where Fela Kuti was playing in the 70's) and it swallows you completely and immediately - the band (GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT) is already on stage and playing making you feel you are in a club more than at a ... read more theatre... Fela is such an alive and organic performance - you will also be part of a dance number and it is a GREAT feeling standing in your seat and feel in communion with 1000 strangers in this dance - it's perfect even for the shy ones since it does not expose you yet it does not exclude you either... it's safe to dance in your seat
I am positive FELA is a show that cannot be missed - it would be a shame .. like many other major reviewers have claimed already - You have to treat yourself with this show... i know i am going back and maybe i'll go again... I am going through major personal tragedies but during those 2 and half hours i felt empowered and believed that i can survive everything... Thank you fela (the original giant) and thank you very very much to FELA on broadway ... this for me is a gift - stay open for a long long time !!!!!
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 36 |
Pure theater renaissance! I loved it! Review by: Bluu, Nov 30, 2009 |
| Fela was a joyful musical!I call it theater/dance/concert fusion. The blend of African,latin, jazz and funk music with african dance was excellent! The costumes, set design and attitudes was authentic of the 1970's "Black is Beautiful" movement. The theatre has lost its luster for me and this play takes a risk that works. If theater productions were more like this play it would attract more younger and diverse audiences. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 37 |
Loved It! Review by: pathouser, Nov 29, 2009 |
I had the privilege of seeing FELA when it was originally showing off-Broadway and I was really delighted that I stumbled across this gem of a production. Once it made its way to Broadway, my theater group and I headed to see the show and I was just as delighted! It's hard not to be moved by the infectious music and rhythmic dancing in this show, but what I most loved was the originality and authenticity of the piece, especially since it ... read more does NOT conform to traditional Broadway formats. Fela Kuti was a rebel and so is this show. He tells his story through political songs performed in The Shrine, a nightclub he frequented in Africa, and invites the audience in to watch the show. The stage is a brilliant sea of vibrant colors; the walls of the theater are lined with African masks and the FELA dancers parade through the theater aisles in tribal costumes. It's not a perfect show, but on Broadway, where originality is often watered down to homogenized commercial conformity, FELA is a welcomed breath of fresh air!
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Large Group
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| 38 |
Preferred Memphis Review by: Lynn, Nov 28, 2009 |
| We weren't familiar with Fela Kuti or Afrobeat, so we did find this show interesting. The music and dancing are authentic and generally terrific. Fela's not a traditional Broadway show, however, and the plot is a bit fuzzy. It's also a bit violent and intense. Like other reviewers, we found Memphis to be more entertaining. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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| 39 |
go if you like Afrobeat! Review by: Judahdiah, Nov 25, 2009 |
| its kind of like going to an Afrobeat show that has a minor plot line. When you enter the theatre, the music is already grooving, which facilitates the relatively consistent participatory nature of the show. Some of the accuracy was a little questionable, for example, a djembe being performed throughout is not characteristic of Kuti's music, nor of the Yoruban culture he minutely borrowed from. I would say go see it, but read about his life ... read more before hand, so you can have a better perspective. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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Recommended for:
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| 40 |
Just OK Review by: frequent theatre goer, Nov 24, 2009 |
| I strongly disagree with the above reader – it is NOT the best show out there – apparently they did not see MEMPHIS - which is the best Broadway show out there now !! For FELA my friend and I thought we were more in a concert than a Broadway show for a good part of the beginning. The true story is interesting but I do agree with the reader that wrote it could have been presented better. The dancing is good. This show should be off-Broadway.... read more. If you truly want a great Broadway experience - skip this show and see Memphis, Mary Poppins, Mama Mia, etc. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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| 41 |
Joy at the Eugene O'Neil Review by: morgo, Nov 24, 2009 |
| Ground Breaking-A ritual of joy-What theatre is meant to be |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Adults
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| 42 |
Entertaining musical--if you approach with an open mind Review by: IggyCat, Nov 17, 2009 |
The previous reviews seem to say this is either the greatest show on Broadway or the worst. My view is somewhere in between. On the negative side, I would agree the show is unusual and may disappoint in some ways. For example, the plot is not a traditional, acted-out story line but rather mostly narrative of events in Fela's life. On the plus side, I thought the dancing and music were very good--they are African in nature, of course, ... read more but have a strong, exciting Latin/Jazz angle as well. Overall, I think if you approach this with an open mind and can overlook a few flaws, this really is an entertaining and ambitious musical.
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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| 43 |
Best Show On Broadway Review by: BluesGrrl, Nov 15, 2009 |
DO NOT MISS! This is a show that is so energizing, moving, politically astute, and flawless in every way, that it will blow everything else on Broadway out of the water. The choreography was wonderful, the sets and costumes really brought you to the time period, and the lighting was excellent. The lead, Sahr, was a perfect FELA! Kudos to Bill T. Jones for another hit!
This is a show I will want to see again and again.
GO! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| 44 |
was there even a writer? Review by: jjb, Nov 14, 2009 |
| very disappointing how they are able to tell such a fascinating story in such an awful way - it was like a lecture, one guy just standing on stage talking to the audience, making bad jokes, throwing some dull political messages at the audience with some dancing performances in between. thank god there was an intermission where i could leave! |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 45 |
FELA fails as Broadway Calibre Review by: Sandy, Oct 29, 2009 |
The dancing in Fela, despite the fact that dancer's dance their ass off, is still not Broadway calibre and there is a sameness to the whole thing. The entire production seemed more appropriate for off-Broadway, which is where it was.
The great Lillith White, who is always exceptional, was left with a minor role that failed to tap her incredible talent as an actress and uncomparable singer. Anyone who saw White as
Dinah Washington in a ... read more past off-Broadway show, knows just what she can deliver. In a past concert production of South Pacific, she blew the house away.
The real star of the play was the incredible music. Sadly, the music and musicians get short shrift from the company itself: At the end when the lead actor publicly thanks actors, etc. The Music and Musicians are OMITTED. This is nearly criminal in my eyes.
I found "Fela" as a character, rather unsavory, self-righteous, arrogant, and finally extremely unlikeable. The play would have been much better as a musical revue!!!
Sandy N. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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