I wasn’t sure what to expect at Bailiwick Chicago’s Midwest premiere of “Passing Strange,” a story of a young Los Angeles artist who rebels against his Christian mother and leaves home in the 80s to explore Amsterdam and Berlin in hopes of finding the “real” him.
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Passing Strange
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Bailiwick Chicago
Chicago, IL
Runs thru May 29, 2011
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“Passing Strange” was on Broadway in 2008 with lyrics and music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald. They collaborated with Director Annie Dorsen. Spike Lee filmed a documentary in 2009 on the musical.
It was evident that over a hundred people came out to watch the show, despite the fact that the weather was cold and rainy. As I waited to receive my ticket, a few people were at the bar getting last minute beers and cocktails, while others scattered inside the theater to find their seats.
Lights, Camera, Action! The show began promptly as Jayson “JC” Brooks stepped onto the small stage in a sleek and stylish black suit singing “Is it alright if we play all night?” As Brooks soulful vocals kept the audience rocking from side to side, the band The Uptown Sound’s rocked every instrument and had everyone moving and grooving.
As the band played, Brooks begin to speak and narrate the story, a young man was sleeping on the couch and his mother tries to convince him to attend church. The next scene took place in church. It seemed real, the ladies had on big fancy hats and the men in suits. The narrator JC started to preach and the church started dancing and praising Jesus. It was hilarious and very believable.
The youth experiences marijuana, sex, drugs and love in hopes of finding out his true identity. Each scene was filled with comedy, singing and a number of musical styles, including gospel, punk, blues, jazz and rock.
This is a must see musical. The cast and the band brought every scene to life. My favorite scene is the part when this man goes from a red dress and a wig to a bikini and four inch heels. I almost fell out the chair, it was so damn funny. I don’t want to tell too much and ruin it for you but this is a must-see play in Chicago right now.
After exploring Amsterdam, the Youth heads to Berlin where he met a rebellious bad ass crew in which he falls in love with Desi, the ring leader. Throughout the musical, his mother tries to convince him to come home but he ignores her request. The relationships in this play are thoughtful and in-depth showing real human character. All of the actors bring this truly great play to life in a unique fashion that is well worth watching.
“Passing Strange,” will be in Chicago until May 29th. General admission is $25 and reserved seats are $35. For more information, please visit www.bailiwickchicago.com
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