A playful song from Memphis the Musical maintains that "Everybody Wants To Be Black on a Saturday Night."
Better make that Friday night, too.
That's when the Rep opened its 39th season with the Tony-award-winning musical about the soulful sounds and social tensions of Memphis in the 1950s.
Based loosely on the life of Memphis' Dewey Phillips, one of the first white disc jockeys to play black records on the radio, the story follows the unlikely friendship turned forbidden love between Huey (Brent Michael DiRoma), a rebellious white DJ, and Felicia (Jasmin Richardson), a refined black singer, in racially tense Tennessee.
The musical -- based on the book and lyrics of Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics of David Bryan (Bon Jovi's keyboardist) -- is a Southern-set Hairspray crossed with West Side Story. Vibrant, yet violent. Upbeat, yet upsetting. Humorous, yet heartbreaking. It's a 145-minute (that's including intermission) rhythm-and-blues roller coaster ride -- one we didn't want to end.
Richardson was brilliant, ably handling all the heavy belting required on songs from "Underground," to "Colored Woman," to "Love Will Stand Up When All Else Fails." She was equally matched by endearing DiRoma, who also delivered, particularly on "Memphis Lives in Me." Other standouts in the superior cast included Tony Perry as protective brother Delray and Arthur L. Ross who was lovable as big teddy bear Bobby.
Memphis the Musical will be performed again at 8 p.m. today and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, with performances at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 28 at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Sixth and Main streets, Little Rock. Tickets are $40 to $55; $30 for students. A sign-interpreted performance for the hearing impaired will be Wednesday (Sept. 10 only). Call (501) 378-0405 or visit www.therep.org/attend.
Metro on 09/06/2014