[NEohioPAL] Berko review: MEMPHIS @ Palace Theater

[Roy Berko]

*Hockadoo MEMPHIS rocks the Palace*



Roy Berko

*(Member, American Theatre Critics Association & Cleveland Critics Circle)*



Bannered as “The essence of what a Broadway musical should be,” there is no
way of experiencing MEMPHIS, the David Bryan and Jo DiPietro musical, now
on stage at the Palace Theatre, without shouting “Hockadoo!”



Yes, this is a Hockadoo, “Yay!” and  “Whoo hoo!” kind of show.  It’s
wonderful!  It bursts on stage with the *Underground* opening number and
keeps on going through the curtain call with explosive dancing, exciting
songs and a tale of forbidden love.



The musical takes us back to the 1950s.  It’s the segregated South where
the mixing of blacks and whites is not only unacceptable, it’s illegal.  This
is Memphis, Tennessee, where the Klan holds sway, blacks “know their
place,” and “negra” music isn’t sung or appreciated by whites.



An eccentric white guy bursts into a black underground dance club.  He’s
out of kilter with both the white and black communities.  He’s a drifter
who can’t find his nitch in life, but somehow perceives the idea of a white
radio DJ who plays black music.  And before he’s through, many rules of the
Memphis culture are altered.



Though billed as a rock musical, it really mixes gospel and rhythm and
blues with foundational rock music.  Included in the great score are the
dynamic *The Music of My Soul*, the heartfelt *Ain’t Nothing But a Kiss*,
and the beautiful *Someday*.  It’s the kind of sound that gave birth to the
likes of Elvis.



The production captivates.  To cap it all off, the goings on are based on
actual events which highlight disc jockey, Dewey Phillips, here named Huey,
who burst on the scene by being unafraid, out of kilter with the norm, and
having a vision of what should be.  He falls in love with a black club
singer and brings her first to local and then to national attention.



MEMPHIS opened on Broadway on October 19, 2009 and went on to win the Tony
Award for Best Musical.  It is still running on Broadway.



The touring production is as good as the Broadway version.  Felicia
Boswell, as Felicia, Huey’s love interest is dynamic.  She was the cover
for the part of Felicia on Broadway and grabs and holds the audience with
her vocal dynamics.  Bryan Fenkart, who was the stand-by for the lead male
role in New York, is nothing short of compelling as Huey.   Both have great
singing voices and create clear characterizations.  There is real magnetism
between the two.



Quentin Earl Darrington (Delray) powers his vocals.  He is one talented
singer.   Julie Johnson (Mama) is delightful.  Her *Change Don’t Come
Easy*was a show stopper.
Rhett George wails *Say A Prayer*.  The rest of the cast is equally as
talented.



The dancers are dynamic and the chorus sounds blend well.  The band is
tunefully great.  The sets, lights and costumes all work.



*CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   MEMPHIS is one of those special handclapping, cheer
inducing, wonderful evenings of theatre.  This is a must see!!*



Tickets for MEMPHIS, which runs through March 11 at the Palace Theatre, can
be ordered by calling 216-241-6000 or going to www.playhousesquare.org.
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