Review: ASF’s ‘Jubilee’ features amazing musical performances
The Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s production of “Jubilee” is all about the music, and the music is dazzling.
ASF is known for its superb acting, lavish sets, lightning-fast set changes, gorgeous costumes and its sometimes spectacular special effects and lighting. Only a few of these are present in ASF’s production of “Jubilee,” and that is by design.
“Jubilee,” dubbed “An A Cappella Musical” is all about the music, the “field songs” that a group of Black singers after the Civil War helped transform into part of America’s musical lexicon.
The costumes, designed by Merrily Murray-Walsh, are as elaborate as they are lovely, and the play contains projections including photos of the actual participants.
MORE: Spiritual experience: 'Jubilee' a story of thriving with a cappella music
But the set on the theater’s Festival Stage is basic; 12 chairs and a table in front of what appears to be a water-damaged wall. The acting, while good, is more likely to be monologues that explain the characters rather than interaction or plot devices that develop them. Often dialogue is choreographed, where one member of the group of performers will state part of an idea, followed by another stating a continuation of the idea and then another.
The production, written and beautifully directed by Tazewell Thompson, tells the story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who began touring the United States and Europe in 1871 to raise money for their new and financially strapped Black college.
Yet Thompson is canny enough to know that regardless of how moving the singers’ individual stories may be, the audience will be most moved by what the Jubilee Singers created when they took field songs sung by Black slaves, combined them with incredible voices and introduced them to the general public.
The characters’ narratives are affecting. But with the help of Dianne Adams McDowell, who has arranged the vocals and added additional music and lyrics, and a baker’s dozen of some of the most talented singers to perform on an ASF stage, it is the non-stop brilliance of “Jubilee’s” a cappella performances that will astonish audiences.
The quality of the music is almost matched by the quantity. There are 42 songs, ranging from gospel to blues even opera, all so good that it is almost impossible to pick favorites. The latter description applies to the 13 cast members, whose individual voices are all excellent, but who as an ensemble are divine.
If you are a fan of either African-American history or of a cappella music, this is a can’t-miss production.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Jubilee
WHERE: Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s Festival Stage
WHEN: Performances through Jan. 29
TICKETS: log on to ASF.net
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Review: ASF’s ‘Jubilee’ features amazing musical performances
