CurtainUp Gives 'Bring In Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk A Six-Month Checkup



'Da critics spoke and declared 'Bring In Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk an unqualified success, a ground breaking musical. Last April 'Da Funk tapped its way uptown to the Ambassador Theater on Broadway without losing 'Da Beat. 'Da uptown crowd joined 'Da funky guys and girls in stopping each number with whoops and hollers and hand claps after each number. Now, almost six months later, CurtainUp re-visited the show to see if audience and cast were still riding high on the initial wave of enthusiasm. The answer is a resounding Yes.



'Bring In Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk and its cast, (intact except for a few minor changes), is as fresh as if the show had opened yesterday. Savion Glover is as fantastically inventive as ever. And so are Jeffrey Wright, drummers Raymond King and Jared Crawford and the rest of the amazing nine--which includes superwoman Ann Duquesnay as all 'Da funky women.



We won't bore you with a review since it's all been said by other critics who were around before the curtain rose on CurtainUp . Just check them out by clicking over to the Public Theater organization's own site. This is also the place for information about the show's cast album (though in my opinion this dance-driven show needs a video).Check out 'Da Critics' Raves, then hurry back to CurtainUp



A few comments on our re-visit:
If I had to recommend one show for moms and dads and grandparents to give the kids in their lives a genuine Broadway experience, 'Bring In Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk would get my numero uno vote for all except the smallest of small fry. No ersatz movie/tv experience but theater as theater should be: original, uplifting, relevant and, of course, fun. Mind you though, this is not a kids' show. It's an everybody show and everybody should have a chance to se it.



Like Chorus Line which also started out downtown at the Public Theater, 'Bring In Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk has changed people's notions about what a contemporary musical can and should be. It's too soon to predict whether it will enjoy a fifteen-year Broadway run as that show did or how many more millions will see it as a touring company production. The only safe bet is that in fifteen years Savion will be pushing on towards his fortieth birthday. No doubt he'll make way for another talented performer and, like Director/Producer /Mr.ShowBiz, George C. Wolfe, will continue to soar in many creative directions--always keeping 'da beat.



©right October 1996 and may not be reproduced in any form or any medium without express permission from Elyse Sommer,CurtainUp. (esommer@pipeline.com).





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